Do Themes Restrict Artist Creativity?

Since we launched the open call for Sussex artists we have had a few unkind comments on social media about our theme. Comments that use words like ‘stupid’, ‘ridiculous’ and ‘restrictive’ in relation to the theme we have set, so I thought I’d share my thoughts.

Part of me wants to have a little childish tantrum and say ‘it’s our exhibition, if you don’t like it then don’t enter’ and then huff a lot and mumble words like ‘philistines’ under my breath. After all, Jo and I set the theme so in some ways I can’t help taking it a bit personally, as I thought it was a jolly good theme.

Fortunately those that have decided to react negatively to the open call are in the minority, but do they have a point?

One of the most famous open calls is The Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition, something we are trying to emulate on a smaller scale with The Sussex Contemporary. The Summer Exhibition is the largest open call in the world and has been held every year since 1769 and has up to 16,500 entries each year, including from some pretty famous artists. And guess what? They have a theme!

The Summer Exhibition’s theme for 2022 is ‘Climate’ which is pretty poignant but, just like with our theme, it is open to artistic interpretation. After all isn’t that what being an artist is all about? The ability to take cues from imagination or real life and turn them into art.

Personally, I find themes to be helpful. They are the prompt to getting the old grey matter whirring and coming up with ideas that will eventually become some marks on a canvass or lines in a sketchbook. Having a prompt like this, sets you down an artistic pathway, a route that otherwise may not have been taken.

Being a nosey so-and-so, I have taken a look at the social channels of those that have been negative about the theme. All then became clear as to why they may have their artistic knickers twisted about it. There are some artists who have a very distinct style, always use the same medium and always have the same subject matter. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You’re the artist and it is your art, so you do what works for you. However, the chances of your artwork fitting a theme or brief is unlikely. In this case it isn’t the theme that it is restrictive, it is more the artists’ approach and unwillingness to step off their well-trodden path.

As I said there is nothing wrong with that, but it doesn’t make a theme ‘stupid’ or ‘ridiculous’, but I can see how they might feel it is restrictive.

It is a little restrictive and, if I’m being honest, it is supposed to be. We want to put on an exhibition that has a theme, we think it is a pretty broad theme, but it is a theme nonetheless. Our theme is Sussex food & drink related but that doesn’t mean we will only accept art that depicts food and drink. Those of you that didn’t read past the theme headline are likely to think it is relatively narrow. So, it is also likely to be the case that some of those making comments didn’t bother to read the details of the theme, so didn’t appreciate what it covered.

Although the theme for The Sussex is food & drink, it doesn’t mean that artists can’t make their own interpretations, and boy have we had some interpretations already. Some are literal interpretations and some are what I politely describe as ‘far out’.

There have been pieces that are a commentary on food waste, some on food production methods and some on farming. Others have focussed on people such as chefs, farmers, brewers, fishermen and market stallholders. There have been plenty of animals and livestock, from bees to cows. There have even been some flamingos! And of course a range of seascapes and landscapes including farms, orchards and vineyards. Pubs and restaurants also feature.

“But why on earth did you pick food & drink?” I hear no one ask. Well, that’s simple. We have partnered with a charity this year called Table Talk Foundation who are providing food education to primary school kids in Sussex. They send in a chef to class and help young kids make better food choices, partly in an effort to tackle childhood obesity.

As my waist will attest, I love food and drink so the theme was really a no-brainer. I think Sussex has some truly world-class food and drink producers and a phenomenal artist community so we hope by putting them both together we can highlight just how great you all are.

If you are still unconvinced by the theme then I doubt there is anything I could say to change your mind. To those people I wish you well with your art but perhaps being part of the largest exhibition of Sussex contemporary art just isn’t for you. But to those artists that fancy having a go, then I say feel free to interpret the theme how you want, and be as creative as you like. The Sussex will be a major exhibition of contemporary art from Sussex artists and I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

Finally, to answer the original question ‘Do Themes Restrict Artist Creativity?’ Of course they don’t, that’s ‘stupid’ and ‘ridiculous’ (Ner, ner, ne ner, ner).