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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Is this poor work for someone who is studying/has studied fine art? **title edited by MNHQ at OP's request**

208 replies

Gingernaut · 31/08/2016 01:17

There is building works going on around Wolverhampton.

Massive changes to the local shopping centres with lots of closed down shops and noise.

There are attempts at brightening up the space with 'art'.

One shop space has been turned into a 'gallery' 'curated' by students/recent graduates from the local uni which isn't much more than decals and picture boards stuck to the walls.

There has been work done on murals in the wider open space with one taking one woman days to produce.

Days of climbing up and down a ladder surrounded by barriers, carefully painting a large mural with a huge blank space in rhe middle.

On and off, she has spent weeks working on this opus, painstakingly creating the city's motto against a backdrop of a hellish industrial backdrop.

Today I saw the finished, um, thing.

It turns out she's been working on panels elsewhere to stick on the blank bird/angel space in the middle of the mural.

Ladies and gentlemen!

Allow me to present Wolverhampton's one and only

FLAMING PISSED OFF TURKEY FROM HELL

Seriously?

WTAF?

To my eye, it honestly looks like a not particularly talented teenager had a go a scaling up a picture she saw in an art book.

Please tell me this wasn't paid for???

Is this poor work for someone who is studying/has studied fine art? **title edited by MNHQ at OP's request**
Is this poor work for someone who is studying/has studied fine art? **title edited by MNHQ at OP's request**
Is this poor work for someone who is studying/has studied fine art? **title edited by MNHQ at OP's request**
OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
AbyssinianBanana · 31/08/2016 07:30

Professional critic who publicly states their opinion - and is just as criticised by others for it - isn't the same as this anonymous post.

MoreCoffeeNow · 31/08/2016 07:30

It's you.

HTH

SoupDragon · 31/08/2016 07:31

To my eye, it honestly looks like a not particularly talented teenager had a go a scaling up a picture she saw in an art book

What utter nonsense. I think the key point is where you say "to my eye". That's kind of the whole point of art really.

I think you're being mean.

HeyRobot · 31/08/2016 07:33

The style looks like those old municipal banners to me. Pit banners are similar as well.

SemiNormal · 31/08/2016 07:35

Why does the OP have to be kind? If you do a piece of art for a public space I do think you are open to criticism.

OP doesn't have to be kind. If OP chooses to comment in a public space then they are open to criticism.

GingerbreadGingerbread · 31/08/2016 07:35

The slogan seems naff with it because it makes it seem like they think it's a serious and inspiring piece of art and it's erm... A bit crap.

Hippywannabe · 31/08/2016 07:36

I'm not particularly keen but I think you have had an over the top reaction to it.
Are you related to someone who didn't get picked to do it?

birdieeeeeeeee · 31/08/2016 07:36

I cannot wait to see this when I buy school shoes in a big Hmm

birdieeeeeeeee · 31/08/2016 07:36

But *

My spelling is as bad as the painting.

birdieeeeeeeee · 31/08/2016 07:37

Bit ffs. See!

Cantusethatname · 31/08/2016 07:39

Why is this any different from reading a book and posting a critical review on Amazon?

NicknameUsed · 31/08/2016 07:43

So, the picture isn't to the OP's taste. It it because you don't like it or is there not enough evidence of skill?

I think it's OK. I also think it displays a level of skill way above anything I could produce.

So, YABU.

LellyMcKelly · 31/08/2016 07:43

Well, if the point of art is to get people appreciating, evaluating, thinking and talking about it, I'd say this mural has been a huge success. Works of public art always come in for criticism. If they don't, that's when you know they've had no impact.

r2d256 · 31/08/2016 07:51

Aww I feel sorry for the poor girl who has gone in to so much effort only to have it publicly slammed...

When I see art I don't like, I think quietly to myself seriously how much did THAT cost or jokingly I could do soooooo much better !! Before then having a chuckle to myself and remembering that some serious hard work has gone in to creating "a vision" that differs for each and everyone of us. If this is her vision and she put love and passion for her work in to it then let it be.

I like it !!!

UterusUterusGhali · 31/08/2016 07:52

The colours are beautiful.
The scale is a bit squew-wiff. (Sp?)

When you say student, do you mean 6th former or third year art student? I think that would make a difference tbh.

Peonie7654 · 31/08/2016 07:55

It is better than some Art in the Tate!

My children I I had a great time analysing some of the artwork in the Tate. Lots of it looks like a GCSEs art project. ( mummy the artist forgot to paint that one....no it's just white paint ...it's rubbish...well yes) looks of shock from other visitors as they realise it's true.

I think its fine, a young local artist got to do a big piece of work, it will have cost the council very little. It brightens up a space.

Lweji · 31/08/2016 07:56

It looks like an ironic piece.
:)

Lweji · 31/08/2016 07:58

And people also mocked Picasso and Van Gogh.
Just saying. Wink

HeyRobot · 31/08/2016 07:59

Peonie, do you really think you've been enlightening people at the Tate?

imnotalpharius · 31/08/2016 08:05

They have used empty shops in the Mander centre as pop up galleries for years. Not sure about the art work till I see it up close but it's better than blank space. It is nice to see local young people showing their work.
I loved the blackboard ones they put up a few years ago "Before I die...." I really liked reading what people had written, some of it was fascinating.

Lweji · 31/08/2016 08:07

It just looks fat and kind of like a butterfly more than a phoenix

Maybe the artist is going for the contrast between the ephemerity of the butterfly with the continued resistance and endurance of the phoenix.

See, they got us talking about the meaning and symbolism. Grin

BleakBetty · 31/08/2016 08:08

Agree with uterus.

The detail and vibrancy of the feathering does show skill, love the way they've made it look almost glittery.

Definitely think the body needs more definition or shading as it just sort of blends in, and proportions need a bit of work really.

It's a temporary student piece. Hardly a big deal nor worth such a scathing review.

Tomselleckhaskindeyes · 31/08/2016 08:09

how often have we watched a film and thought well that was shit. Are we not allowed to say anything remotely controversial anymore. She doesn't like it, she finds it shit her own valid opinion. This is art it splits opinion, it gets us talking, it challenges and if we find it shit then we are allowed to say that. It's not a private painting it's on a public space. You are right it does look like a turkey! Smile

MLGs · 31/08/2016 08:16

I think the tone and language of the OP are nasty. "I don't like this" or "I don't think it's good" are fine, but "it's a bit shit" with the description of her hard work is disparaging and inviting us to laugh at her.

Anyway, I quite like it too. Also thought it had echoes of trade union banners and worked well for what it is.

(Although did laugh at "the evil turkey is watching as city moto....)

whereTFaremykeys · 31/08/2016 08:21

There is graffitti art in a dump called Heath Town which, imho, knocks spots off this.

I call that dump home Hmm

Initially I thought the OP was just expressing opinion on the art, but this is obviously a 'Wolverhampton's not good enough for me thread'.

Very unkind OP.

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