Articulation Prize 2024: The Photographers Gallery

The annual Articulation Prize invites those aged between 16 and 19 to deliver a 10-minute presentation to an audience about a work of art, architecture or an artefact in a museum or gallery setting. The adjudicator was D.Wiafe, Artist, educator and Course Leader BA (Hons) Commercial Photography, London College of Communication. His work in brand partnership projects (Converse, Jigsaw, Capture One) has provided platforms for young talent in photography to innovate in branded content, community initiatives and cultural projects.

Madeline chose to talk about the artist Sarah Meyers-Brent and her piece ‘Ooze IV’, her delivery was authentic, passionate, and delivered with confidence and we could not be prouder!

^{Sarah Meyers-Brent: Ooze IV, 2016, Paint, Cloth, Foam, Frame and Mixed Media, 31.5″ x 73″}

Here is just a section of Madeline’s thought-provoking presentation:

‘Everything in nature grows, and then it decays. It is the essence of the cycle of life and there is a very delicate balance between the two that I will be exploring today, out of growth or decay – which do you think is more important? Which one do you perceive as being more beautiful? As a whole, we all try to avoid decay. But decay is what enforces the fact that everything has mutability, that everything has impermanence and the duality of growth and decay working simultaneously is a pertinent characteristic of nature that is presented in the works of artist Sarah Meyers-Brent. Brent’s art challenges and expands our understanding of these concepts, not just as mere subjects but a profound reflection on natural disasters, environmental destruction, and the human condition. In her works, the distinction between painting and sculpture becomes blurred, creating an amorphous experience that envelops and transforms the available space that she is presented with. She is known for using materials such as recycled fabrics, paint rags and decaying flowers, the materials she uses are often brittle, disintegrating – yet beautiful – a homage to the fragility of our environment and the impermanence of life itself. The natural elements of the piece will continue to deteriorate, whilst the painting preserves the snapshot of life, highlighting the opposing elements of existence. Sarah Meyers-Brent’s art is a deliberate message, weaving together the transience of life and the evitability of decay’.

Mrs Elizabeth Smith
Head of Art & 3D Design
Director of Teaching & Learning