Originally published in The Hullfire.
In this, the first issue of The Hullfire since this town became City of Culture there are plenty of articles looking at the various events that are already starting to make this look like an impressive year. There is also some excellent reporting on sport, music, current affairs and more. Oh and we have a complete editorial team now (check them out here)! Enjoy!
There is something quite thrilling about observing the pencil strokes of a master of their craft. On a few occasions over the last couple of weeks I have stood in the Lines of Thought exhibition on campus, fascinated by the collection of sketches, doodles and, importantly, errors on display from some of the greatest artists to have ever lived. The Hullfire’s own report on the British Museum exhibition and interview with head curator John Bernasconi is on page 12 With this collection I felt closer in some ways to the artists than if I were in a gallery of finished works; there is something organic and timeless about seeing the fibres etched onto the surface of the paper, the artists’ imagination materialising for the first time. But what is most striking is the unfinished and down to earth nature of the pictures. It is a look into their creative process and in many – particularly one by Michelangelo in preparation for work on the Sistine chapel – there is a great deal of experimentation on display.
Famous works of art, didn’t just spring from their creator with a swipe of the paintbrush but were a long arduous process; a collection of trials and errors, in order to achieve a finished product which although often to different tastes is nonetheless celebrated. Looking back over the last three years and beyond I can see some parallels with this artistic process to life. Not all works in progress are as appealing to the eye as these pieces – the orange construction barriers that are only just being removed from Hull town centre were an unfortunate blemish on the otherwise glammed up City of Culture. There are certainly times when you look back on the journey you’ve made and cringe at certain points. We all have moments which in retrospect we would like to scribble out; one piece has Leonardo Da Vinci himself doing just that. But we can take comfort from the fact that we are works in progress, learning from mistakes and growing each time. Actually there is something exciting about the uncertainty of that journey.
People who think they have made it probably haven’t and still have things they could work on; some of the most inspiring artists of any genre are those who continually push their own creative boundaries and that’s a challenge to any of us to always remain in pursuit of new goals. There is always a risk in society of becoming content with ‘ok’, a poisonous attitude which halts progress and prevents strong leaders from being raised up. Now more than ever we need leaders who don’t think they’re perfect; who acknowledge their weaknesses and their mistakes but who genuinely seek to be better and to see a better society for all.
I’m convinced that part of the reason the far right is on the rise across the West is the complete lack of confidence in mainstream politics on the left and the right, a mainstream who wanted to appear as though they had it all nailed but didn’t. As far as they were concerned the cultural war had been won and they had nothing to fear, even their many faults would not lose them any favours. This was an arrogance that would cost them and millions of supporters dearly. The fact is, getting it right first time is not the reality of life and there are always areas to improve. It’s why I enjoy the sketches in this exhibition so much because no matter how long it has been since the resulting piece of artwork was completed and hung; in their unfinished nature, these drawings still feel very much alive.
Tim Goodfellow 