Conversation with Mary Findlay
International Art Curator, Deutsche Bank
Which art exhibition/event/artist are you looking forward to the most post lockdown?
The exhibition I am most looking forward to seeing post lockdown is actually local to where I live in Wiltshire – at Salisbury Cathedral. They have had an amazing contemporary visual arts programme for many years, run by curator Jacqueline Creswell, but 2020 is the 800th anniversary of the Cathedral and the 20 fantastic works she has curated to celebrate this milestone, under the theme of ‘Spirit and Endeavour’, in the stunning setting at the Cathedral enables a different reflection on the work of many well-known artists. The installation of the works only just managed to be finished before lockdown and so has not been seen by the public yet but should be open very soon. The works exhibited inside and around the Cathedral include major works by artists Sudoph Gupta, Antony Gormley, Shirazeh Houshiary, Henry Moore, Grayson Perry, Conrad Shawcross, Eduardo Paolozzi, Martin Creed, Elisabeth Frink, Tony Cragg, Barbara Hepworth, Youki Hirakawa and Mark Wallinger. More information at salisburycathedral.org.uk
What has been your favourite online experience thus far?
That’s easy - AWITA Walk and Talk session online around Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Embarrassingly I have never managed to travel there (so far!) so being taken around in the physical park by Clare and Helen was really fantastic and then the added bonus of the separate breakout rooms for mentoring/informal conversation at the end meant it was possible to meet new people properly and have a good 4 way conversation which, as we know, is not always easy on an online get together with lots of people! And I am sure as the format online develops people all around the world will be able to connect & network in a sustainable way. Really great format – will be attending again!
Do you think there will be changes from this period (working from home/changes in childcare) that you will continue with after lockdown ends?
Although Lockdown has not been easy it has shown us new ways to alter the way we operate going forward, many for the good, and the different and creative ways of communicating that have sprung are amazing, especially the unbelievably positive effect this can have on the environment - we have to build on that. It’s an incredibly worrying time for artists and the art world, but engaging with expression and creativity is vital to our society for so many different reasons and so I know the sector will work together, and support each other, to come out stronger from this through different formats and less travel!