2009 SELECTORS   

Gus Cummins RA 
Lincoln Seligman 

Peter Bowles 
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen 

Julius Bryant 
Jackie Wullschlager 

The Mall Galleries
London

Sponsored by

 

That was the judgement of Julius Bryant, one of this year's Discerning Eye selectors, after two days casting his eye over the 2,500-odd entries for the 2009 show. Julius, Keeper of Word and Image at the Victoria and Albert Museum, was astonished, he says, by the productivity and diversity of the artists, both professional and amateur, who submitted work.

He expands elsewhere in this catalogue on what he identified as 'a need to paint' by those artists but, first, let me thank him for his enthusiastic support, which this year has led to the launch of the V&A Acquisition Prize.

The V&A will acquire for the nation a work from the ING Discerning Eye exhibition. There will be no cash involved (apart from payment to the artist for the work) but the winner's exhibit will be added to one of the important national collections of paintings, drawings, prints, photographs and book and computer art held by the V&A.

I find it hard to think of a more exciting and rewarding honour for an artist.

Discerning Eye supporters will also benefit from our association with the V&A. The museum has agreed to organise exclusive visits for Discerning Eye Friends and Members to inspect the V&A's spectacular collections.

My gratitude goes to all the selectors who gave up their time to embrace the spirit of The Discerning Eye. I also would add my thanks to our generous sponsors, ING Wholesale Banking, and to exhibition organisers, Parker Harris, without whom there would be no show here at the Mall Galleries. This is the start of my second year as Discerning Eye Chairman. I am delighted that I found myself lucky to have inherited such a highly enjoyable role in an organisation that is going from strength to strength.

The numbers of submitting artists are up; the quality of the work superior. We have committed financial support, enhanced recognition and, importantly for the artist, more prizes.

All of this goes to better achieving the founding principles of The Discerning Eye: to encourage a wider understanding and appreciation of the visual arts and, above all, to promote good art and artists.

Another crucial aspect of any exhibition for artists is the award of prizes. Prizes not only help an artist sell more work, but in time can help them establish higher prices; crucial if an artist is to become a full time professional.

Discerning Eye has since the very first exhibition given prizes: cash prizes, such as the Meynell Fenton Prize donated very generously each year by Brenda Fenton; materials, to help reduce the artist's costs; or something non financial (but nevertheless just as significant) - a club membership (for example the Arts Club prize, awarded in 2007 and 2008) or perhaps a solo exhibition.

However, in recent years the purchase prize, given by an individual or company who actually acquires the work, has substantially expanded the awards on offer at the Discerning Eye annual exhibition. Of further benefit to an artist winning a purchase prize, Discerning Eye does not deduct its standard sales commission. This approach benefits everybody. The prize giver acquires a work, whilst the artist receives the full value of the prize and has a useful acknowledgement to add to his CV. The value of the £5,000 ING Purchase Prize is even further augmented as the winner also knows that their work will form part of one of the major corporate collections in the world.

This year, I am pleased to announce a new purchase prize to be given by our exhibition organisers, Parker Harris, who will award a purchase prize of up to £1,000 for print, to celebrate Parker Harris' twenty one years in partnership. I would like to thank them not only on behalf of the winning artist but also on behalf of the Discerning Eye for their continued enthusiasm and contribution to our efforts.

In addition, our chairman John Penrose, who has created a Discerning Eye room at his new Dollar Street Gallery in Cirencester, has agreed to show all 2009 prize winning works for a further three weeks after the London exhibition, where we hope those artists will be introduced to a new audience and perhaps new buyers.

Finally, I would like to welcome Gerlach Jacobs to his first ING Discerning Eye exhibition as CEO, ING Wholesale Banking UK and Middle East and to thank him and ING for their continued support. We hope that you, your staff and clients enjoy this year's exhibition.

The Discerning Eye Special Event 2009 ~ "Discovering Print: The Artists' Process"
Exhibition preview and artist demonstrations with introduction by Anita Klein PPRE
Wednesday 11 November 2009 6pm – 8pm Admission free

 

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