The Little World

Keep your ears open at the next exhibition you go to – you stand a fair chance of hearing that phrase passed back and forth amongst the strollers. And the funny thing is that it doesn’t matter what is being exhibited; paintings, scale models, photographs, pottery, or hot rod cars…Ida is still going to be there.

Ida?

” I’d ‘a done it differently…or better…or cheaper…or with more colour…or less colour…” Ida is the champion of second-guessing and unsupported criticism. And just like the wise ass who laughs at fat people running laps around the oval…Ida is always one lap behind them, and slowing down.

Oh I can’t say that I am not guilty of the same thing – I go to art galleries and laugh internally at some of the productions that are set up as art. I also grimace internally when I read how much money has been pissed away in arts grants to support the pseuds who are showing the traffic bollards or the plastic dish pans with political titles. But it is internal – when I let out any exclamation I make sure that it is one of praise and delight. Because anyone hearing anything else from me may quite legitimately turn to me and ask ” So where is your entry for the exhibition? Let us see how much better you are. ”

All exhibitions are multi-level things. No-one, with the possible exception of Eugene Atget, has ever produced completely uniform art or science. And the only reason that Eugene was able to do it was that he set himself a low target. I do not snort at his pictures, but I do snort at the art curator who made a lion of him after his death.

Taking a broad and kindly view of any exhibition you go to is a rewarding thing. First off, make sure you go to see things that you want to see. If you know something is hellish or offensive to you…well, don’t stand there in the hall being outraged and bilious. Stay away.

Secondly, consider the price of entry. If it is the NGV or Art Gallery of NSW, you are in for free and anything you see is there is a present. If you pay a nominal fee for a plastic model exhibition, accept that the organisers need some support, and get as much joy as you can. If someone wants to soak you $ 25 a ticket, consider what you might be getting for that money before you shell out. You can go to Young and Jacksons and look at ” Chloe ” with two pints of beer for that price…

Thirdly, if you are prepared to be surprised and pleased, you will be. There is beauty and fun everywhere if you decide to see it.

All the above notwithstanding…if you can indeed do better than what you see, consider going off and doing it. And bringing it next year to enter into the show. If you really are that much better, the tone of the place will rise. If you are not, you may get a valuable lesson. Just be prepared to hear people tell their companions as they pass your entry that they’d ‘a done it better…Ida is everywhere.