M Shed Taylor Wessing exhibition

A mixed group of OCA students met in the M Shed gallery at the Bristol Docks on Saturday October 25th.  I'd met Teresa on the train and joined Amano at Temple Meads station.  Eventually, after coffee, we went up to the Taylor Wessing exhibition to wander round to look at the 50 'portraits' that were on display.  Members of the public were also viewing the exhibition as we walked round.  It was interesting to see how our group of 11 students met, discussed a picture, moved on and reformed into another group as we went round.  Different viewpoints came out about each picture and I found it very welcome to hear what the others thought.  Eventually, after walking round the three rooms of images, one of the gallery staff talked about 5 of the pictures in detail.  I found it very strange that the winning image by Jordi Ruiz Cirera seemed to be subjugated by the Kobel prize winning portrait, by Matthew Niederhauser, of Ai Wei Wei even to the point of it being placed in the room whilst Ai Wei Wei's portrait was the first thing you saw as you walked in to the exhibition.

1st Prize Winner

Kobel Prize Winner

After the briefing on 5 of the images, we had lunch and then were able to use the empty cafe area on the exhibition floor to discuss with Sharon Boothroyd, OCA tutor, what we felt about all the images and any one in particular.  We came to a consensus of opinion that the images had been chosen to shock the viewing public and cause controversy.

Some of us had brought portraits that we had taken and the group discussed them as well.  Sharon had also brought along a presentation on portraiture which she show and discussed.  

All in all, it was a very interesting day; firstly to find out that there is an active, interesting group of OCA photographic students in the South West.  Secondly, that my ideas of portraiture are similar in many ways to the others and lastly to be able to chat to like-minded people when sometimes I can feel quite isolated here on the Dorset coast.  I've decided to make an effort to attend more of these sessions as it was very thought provoking.  Thanks to Amano for organising the day and to OCA for supporting it.
 

Sharon (tutor), Amano, Dorothy, Peter, John, Karen (Textiles student) missing Teresa, Anna, Karen and me

OCS South west group meet 25 October 2013

I'm very excited as I'm joining the OCA south west group in Bristol tomorrow.  We're meeting in the M Shed at Bristol Docks to look round the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize exhibition.  OCA has supplied a tutor to lead the group and there will be a chance to discuss any work we take.

It's a real commitment as it costs about £50 for train fare and contribution to tutor expenses and time, of course, as the journey to Bristol is over 2 1/1 hours each way.  Still, I'm sure it will be worth it.