BRITISH ART SHOW In the Days of the Comet

For the first time the British Art Show has landed in Nottingham, but this comet barely scorches the floor.

Like a comet, the British Art Show is rarity. Held every five years in select venues, this year’s hitting Nottingham, London, Glasgow and Plymouth. My expectations were heightened merely by the fact that it’s so long awaited, so selective, showing recent works by thirty-nine well-known contemporary British Artists. But there was no explosion. There were no fireworks. Just flatness, as I was faced with an exhibition that seemed too familiar, too safe and too…underwhelming.

Walk into Contemporary and you are greeted with Edgar Schmitz sound installation. The cinematic sounds invoke the giddiness of a coming attraction. As the familiar music fanfares through you, you enter, to infinity and beyond. However, the gallery feels like any other exhibition I have seen at Contemporary, their programming fits so perfectly together, but lines are so heavily smudged they start to merge.  The art’s interesting, and there were some genuinely provoking and beautiful pieces. George Shaw’s paintings of Coventry council estate, the detailed scenes eliminate people and activity to give a bewitching quality. Wolfgang Tillman’s ‘Freischwimmer’ is an immense piece of abstract photography.  The show presents a well-presented range of painting, sculpture, drawing, installation, video, film and performance. Each separate Gallery had a unique feel; I was impressed by how Contemporary made the separate spaces feels so relevant and reflective of the art in it. 

The show is held across three Nottingham venues. Entrance to the exhibitions at Nottingham Contemporary and New Art Exchange are free. At Nottingham Castle entrance is free, too, with a passport that has been stamped at the other two venues. I thought this was an interesting idea as it creates a sense of communal involvement and encourages participants to visit all three venues; unfortunately it’s had some negative feedback. Visitors have not always grasped this concept so turn up at the Castle expecting to be allowed in.   

Generally audiences that attend modern and contemporary art exhibitions are quite specific. Nottingham Contemporary tries to attract and reach out to an audience beyond the norm. The venue runs an excellent learning scheme, reaching out to families, schools, colleges, young people, communities and groups. It’s currently working with organization One Nottingham, exploring the valuable role the arts play in empowering communities. British Art Show also ran an Information Centre. Run in the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre, it encourages people to get involved in contemporary art and learn about the show, allowing the British Art Show access to a whole new demographic. Staff are also very welcoming and accommodating. They blend seamlessly into the background, readily available with ‘handouts’ of knowledge.

The British Art Show is guaranteed to be popular. It’s an event of national importance, and with Nottingham Contemporary working so closely with the community, crowds will surely grow. It doesn’t hit like I hoped, there was no explosion but sparks can start fires.