I was honored that I was asked to make a contribution to the Catalogue foreword for Middlesex Fine Art Graduates 2012. Here is my submission below:
‘Doubt, a pervasive feature of modern critical reason, permeates into everyday life’
– Anthony Giddens
We interrogate our validity as an artist with the same gravity that we hasten to tighten our purse strings.
We are on the blade’s edge economically; do we cut ties with our passions and bind ourselves to an insurable career, with a cheque in the post and a guarantee? Or do you listen to that incessant voice that guided you to Art College in the first place.
From this dilemma begins an arduous enquiry into the essence of art. We attempt to penetrate into the heart of the truth that lay within art, yet it all descends into phenomena. But can phenomena be stable, a career to bank on?
We have all experienced this crisis of purpose. Frustratingly, as we tiptoe on the verge of giving up the creativity flows. As artists we exhibit this inherent ability to adapt, survive and flourish in times of adversity. This is why an artist will always outlive a recession. Our approach towards our work is to analyse, respond and bring into existence – an artist’s tools are vast and ubiquitous.
We have never been “A” to “B” individuals; we take the scenic route with extra detours upon the way. We live and breathe in beauty and ruin, aim for beauty but manage to find the filth in every rainbow. We’re detectives, collecting evidence, cleaning up any straggling threads and move onto the next case to solve, injustice to rally against. We are prepared for all eventualities.
In all honesty we knew this choice wouldn’t be easy, and this reflects the strength of character.
We are shocking, entangled with vulgarity, but we will always be illuminating.
Zoe-Lee Skelton
