This year is the Royal Western Academy’s 168th Open. It’s been a strange year. Usually my motivational song is “Under Pressure” from two of our nation’s greatest performers, Freddie Mercury and David Bowie. However, this year there has been very little pressure with exhibitions and trade fairs cancelled. This disruption of our ‘normal’ that lockdown has forced has carved out an unexpected space for me, a time for reflection and change. I have used this space to start to develop a new body of work that examines the wound or scar as an entry point for a creative journey that includes some very personal narratives. I am absolutely thrilled and honoured that one of these pieces, “My Beautiful Stitches” has been shortlisted for the 2020 RWA Academy Award.
Despite the extraordinary year we have had, the RWA has pressed on, bravely, with its annual Open. They have taken delivery of over 600 pieces of artwork, under the most difficult circumstances and have installed the show. The opening has been delayed… twice… but it is now due to open on 2nd January 2021. So, to continue with the Freddie Mercury tribute, “The Show Must Go On!”.
Meanwhile all 600 plus artworks are available to buy from the comfort of our homes.
