I received a very welcome surprise earlier this evening during my daily troll through my email. Somebody had sent a message of thanks to me and the colleague who helped to hang the Unit 9 exhibition at the South Square Centre last week. They were specifically very complementary about the professionalism of the display and the thoughtful way in which it had been hung, as well as expressing appreciation for the art work.
It made me realise how often we tend to take for granted the thought and effort that goes into the presentation of exhibitions. For the most part the person(s) who curate shows are anonymous, unless some celebrity artist has been persuaded to do the job, as is often the case with civic open exhibitions. The hanging of work often contributed a good deal, however, to the way in which it is received by the public, and the task involves typically both a good deal of hard work under the pressure of time, and the exercise of careful judgement. I’m very gratified indeed that on this occasion somebody has been able to express their appreciation of the work required to realise the project.
Next time you go to an exhibition of art please do take the time to reflect a little on the way the show has been displayed, and the aspects of presentation that either add to your appreciation or you find disappointing. I think that you will find the process to be instructive, and might help you to see the art work in a different light.