Blog
Not-working: DYCP journal
03/02/2020
'Yesterday I was at Kettle's Yard 'Homelands' symposium. Unfortunately I squandered the best networking opportunity I might ever have - sitting next to #BritishArtShow curator Hammad Nasar, I chose the moment to launch into one of my ill-thought-out, possibly racist rambles about the decline of colour in Indian fashion.
I was unable to extract myself from the quagmire of embarrassment I created, and now will never be able to go to Cambridge without being reminded of being stuck at a lunch table with people who clearly thought I lost my wits.' 19th January 2020 Facebook post
Most artists I know cringe at the idea of networking, picturing a cynical and creepy exercise in manipulative self-promotion. I tend to see it as the opportunity to talk about what interests you with other people who share your interest. I did a good schmooze at Kettle's Yard for the launch of 'Homelands'. I had gone there mainly to see the performance by Nihkil Chopra, whose performance and drawing I've very much admired. In the course of the event I managed to 'bag' Tara Lal of Chatterjee and Lal, Skinder Hundal of New Art Exchange in Nottingham, and Harriet Loeffler of New Hall art collection (though I knew those two already so maybe it doesn't count as a raw schmooze). Encouraged, I boldly introduced myself to my hero Nihkil, who delighted me by remembering having seen my paintings on Instagram.
I thought a visit to the symposium on 'Homelands' would consolidate the tentacles of my network, but I didn't know anybody there. In spite of sitting between a Dr from the Courtauld and a curator from the Tate, I failed to make any kind of connection, falling deeply asleep during a live-streamed artist's talk from Karachi. At lunch I had a delightful chat with two young men with no artworld connections - a sixth-form teacher and a soft-ware programmer who were just there for pure intellectual curiosity. Hammad Nasar joined us randomly to eat his lunch, and when I found out who he was I was so awestruck that I ceased to make sense.
I blame my geographical isolation and working life in a field in Norfolk. My social grace has suffered from starting the day trying to make a decent impersonation of a hen on my way to the studio
I was unable to extract myself from the quagmire of embarrassment I created, and now will never be able to go to Cambridge without being reminded of being stuck at a lunch table with people who clearly thought I lost my wits.' 19th January 2020 Facebook post
Most artists I know cringe at the idea of networking, picturing a cynical and creepy exercise in manipulative self-promotion. I tend to see it as the opportunity to talk about what interests you with other people who share your interest. I did a good schmooze at Kettle's Yard for the launch of 'Homelands'. I had gone there mainly to see the performance by Nihkil Chopra, whose performance and drawing I've very much admired. In the course of the event I managed to 'bag' Tara Lal of Chatterjee and Lal, Skinder Hundal of New Art Exchange in Nottingham, and Harriet Loeffler of New Hall art collection (though I knew those two already so maybe it doesn't count as a raw schmooze). Encouraged, I boldly introduced myself to my hero Nihkil, who delighted me by remembering having seen my paintings on Instagram.
I thought a visit to the symposium on 'Homelands' would consolidate the tentacles of my network, but I didn't know anybody there. In spite of sitting between a Dr from the Courtauld and a curator from the Tate, I failed to make any kind of connection, falling deeply asleep during a live-streamed artist's talk from Karachi. At lunch I had a delightful chat with two young men with no artworld connections - a sixth-form teacher and a soft-ware programmer who were just there for pure intellectual curiosity. Hammad Nasar joined us randomly to eat his lunch, and when I found out who he was I was so awestruck that I ceased to make sense.
I blame my geographical isolation and working life in a field in Norfolk. My social grace has suffered from starting the day trying to make a decent impersonation of a hen on my way to the studio
