I'm back!

Hello! Long-time-no-see.
You’ve probably been wondering what’s become of me.

Well, to be honest, I needed a rest after all that hard work on the Threadneedle Figurative Prize.

But now I’m back!

And I’ve still got quite a following – that's right, my public don’t forget me. I had a whole army of fans follow me to Covent Garden in November (have a look at the photo if you don’t believe me).

Anyway I've got loads to tell you, including the fact that the prize has changed it's name: we've dropped 'Figurative' from the title. Well it was a bit of a mouthful wasn't it?

So now it's 'The Threadneedle Prize' - look out for it in a-n Magazine.

More anon...

The aftermath

So you're probably all wondering what I'm doing now that the Threadneedle Figurative Prize exhibition is over.

Maybe you think I'm lying on a beach somewhere, cocktail in one hand, suncream in the other (wood burns too you know)...

Well you'd be wrong!

Instead I'm up to my elbows in detergent and am helping to clean up the Galleries before our Society of Wildlife Artists exhibition, which starts on Wednesday 24 September.

To prove it here I am with my (blue) marigolds on.

Ah well, no rest for the wicked...

And the winner is...

So the winner of the Threadneedle Figurative Prize has now officially been announced at a rather glamourous evening at the Mall Galleries. Nina Murdoch won the prize for her work, Untitled, and Tim Shaw won the Federation of British Artists Prize for his Tank on Fire. Many congratulations to them and to all of the artists for a fantastic show.

Being no stranger to glamour and glitz, I dutifully downed my champagne and schmoozed with Lauren Laverne and several fabulously attired arty types. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it!

TFP Feature 3: Fifth Horseman

So, for the third TFP interview feature, I decided to interview one of the more stoic pieces in the exhibition, Deborah van der Beek's 'Fifth horseman.' But as things turned out, he did most of the interviewing, or should I say interrogating.

Fifth Horseman: Vivian! I heard you were doing the rounds.

Me: Yes Sir. I've been interviewing the works in the exhibition.

5th: And I'm next am I?

Me (cowering slightly): well, i mean, only if that's ok...

5th: Fine! FINE.

Silence...

5th: Well! Go on then, ask your questions!

Me: Right, well I was wondering, Mr. Horseman, if you have been enjoying yourself during the exhibition and what you think of it generally?

5th: It has been a capital endeavour, what. Capital. I've enjoyed it immensely.

Me: So who do you think will win the prize?

5th: That's entirely unclear at this point, what, of course. Entirely unclear. Much like you, Vivian my boy. What on earth is your point?

Me: My point? Err..well, sir, I'm the mascot and promoter for the show.

5th: Mascot, eh! In my day we didn't need mascots to promote things. Ridiculous.

Me: Well... I wouldn't go so far as to say...

5th: And what does a promoter do exactly?

Me: Oh, well, I pose for photos and have a blog..

5th: A BOG??!!!

Me: No, a blog, it's a kind of online, well.. never mind.

5th: And what do you think you'll do once the prize is over? Eh?

Me: Oh, well, I suspect I'll go on to other promoting jobs, at least I hope so...

5th: Not clear about that either, I see.

Me (starting to get upset): Well, sir, I mean...

5th: No, entirely pointless, that is what you are Vivian. Just roaming about the gallery, bothering us esteemed works of art with your endless dithering and twittering and interviewing...

Me (starting to well up): I wouldn't say that... I serve an important role... I greet people when they arrive... I'm a familiar face...

5th: Nonsense! Pointless- that's what you are!

Me (with a single tear, rolling down my wooden cheek): Mr. 5th, I think this interview is over now. I think I need to get back to work and maybe have a sit down.

Later Nights

So it's bad enough that I am working flat out day after day, weekends and most evenings, now I have to take time out of my night life to work on top of it all?

It's a sad story, but a true one I'm afraid.

On Friday's I will no longer be found galavanting around London's darker and more intimate bars and clubs with my chorus of inanimate and exciting friends (see post 5th of August ). Oh no. Instead, I will dutifully be upholding my post at the gallery, advertising, promoting and generally looking dashing.

Yes, Mall Galleries are staying open late on Fridays for the Threadneedle Figurative Prize. Until 9pm in fact. The cheek.

TFP Feature 2: Siblings in black hats

So, continuing my Threadneedle Figurative Prize Interview Feature Series (where I interview the works in the exhibition), here is the second instalment. Today, my willing victims are the two lovely ladies in Judith Barton’s ‘Siblings in black hats.’

Me: Ladies, how lovely to see you. How have you been?

Lady 1 (left, with pearls): Oh, wonderful, just wonderful.

Lady 2 (right, with glasses): Fabulous, dahhling, fabulous.

Me: I see that you have both taken the precaution of bringing your own
beverages and food with you to the exhibition.

L2: Well, you know, you never can trust the food in London, I find. It can be so… industrial. All those pre-packaged sandwiches.

L1: Oh I don’t know about that, but I do think it is a wise move to bring a little pre-mixed martini with you. You never know when you.. Hic!.. might feel you need one. Hic!

Me: I see. And you've felt like you've needed one during this exhibition?

L1: Well, sweetie, you know there's just been such a festive atmosphere...

L2 (munching on cheese): Mmmgh... ghverey ghoood atmossghere.

Me: And have you been getting on well with the rest of the art works?

L2: Just swimmingly, really. Thought I did pass by Susan Wilson's 'Idaho' yesterday and I'm sure I heard the cowboy mutter something under his breath at me... I'm sure it was something rude. The cad.

L1: It wasn't rude, dear, he was just asking you for the time.

L2: Are you sure?

L1: Yes dear! He was very taken aback when you left in a huff.

L2: Oh no! Vivian, be a dear, do apologise to him for me, would you? And tell him that if he wants to come round for a martini later, he's more than welcome (winks).

Me: Ahhh.. sure. Well, ladies, thank you very much and I hope you enjoy the rest of the exhibition.

Bank Holiday??

Hope everyone had a great Bank Holiday Weekend- I’m sure it must have been lovely to have time off!

I wouldn’t know, of course, as I was much too busy working.

Here you can see me outside Mall Galleries, slaving away outside (in the rain, no less!). We’ve been running some fun figurative-themed activities in honour of the Threadneedle Figurative Prize. Lots of passers-by got involved before heading into the exhibition!