The Curator's Post-12x Thoughts

Yesterday was The Day for 12x.

Finally, all the artists and ballot holders came together in Evil Empire - which many, including myself, soon found to be tinier and warmer than we had dared venture thinking. But despite some amounts of perspiration and a lot of "Where is so-and-so?", it was an atmosphere of cheerful communal chaos all around. Artists found themselves giving impromptu talks about their works, and ballot holders collectively realised they had some tough decisions on their hands. And that was even before the ballot started.

Sometimes the act of making and buying art can be very lonely. But it was different this time. You could see all the emotions of artists and ballot holders alike play out around you. In fact, you could hear it - when the first, the second, the third artworks were chosen, the rest of the crowd let out very audible "awww-s" as they saw their favourites slip away. Lucky ballot holders looked like they couldn't be happier. One ballot holder even gave another a 'fake' opinion (ahem) just so that she could get her hands on the artwork she wanted. They seemed genuinely excited that they could meet these young artists who would otherwise never have crossed their paths or their minds.

Of course, one always wishes that certain aspects could have been managed better or even done in a completely different way. After all, it was a show of many firsts:

1. The first time many of the artists have been given the opportunity to exhibit their works outside of a school compound.

2. The first time said artists have found a home (other than their own) for their works.

3. The first time these group art buyers have found themselves making snap decisions in a complex web of interdependent choices.

So, as the first time I have officially curated a show, I'm glad that everything sort of fell into place in the end. I'm glad that the artists are thanking me for the opportunity. I'm glad that the walls of the gallery are now bare. I'm glad that people said to me, "I didn't know art students were so talented".

And I'm glad that the artists, the ballot holders, Alan, our Evil Empire supporters, and all those random passersby who wandered into our gallery, came together to make 12x so special.

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