Work of Art: The Next Great Artist

Incredible! This show features contemporary artists going head to head in a reality TV competition. Who would have thought sheltered artists with a bloated self-esteem would get into so much drama? I always thought fine artists were morally superior to the rest of society. But put them all in a gallery with the cameras rolling, and things get spicy! I was pleasantly surprised that even though the first season was made over a decade ago, there were no displays of sexism, homophobia, or transphobia. Nope, not one! Don't look that up.

What I like most about this reality / talent show is that the audience comes to see the point of view of the artist of their own and other's works. Even when the piece of art is a failure in my opinion or in the judges' opinion, I can always see that there was an original concept behind that piece of work. The artists try to come out with good ideas, but sometimes the work gets diluted, or it escalates out of hand, or its realization is not eventually as good as it sounded beforehand.

I also think there was much more variety of skills in the first season. By including performance art of several types, the programme spread the word about several artists whose art didn't usually show up in museum exhibitions. I can remember that there was even an architect.

This programme has made art coming from young or not so young up-and- coming artists available to a wider section of the public. I live in a very small town without big museums nearby, and a huge lack of cultural life, and the programme has succeeded in making available several present-day art movements and artists which I would have never heard of otherwise.

This show stimulated some of the best DISCUSSIONS around...What is art? How can you agree that Person X won the show? Why do the judges hate Person Y but love Person Z??? (Even if the works are similar???) A good insight into art- thought today! There were a few candidates who were either openly amateurish (showing substandard tech skills) or who substituted crude lite porn or shallow vulgarity instead of making works of depth.

Review the videos...You will be surprised by at least one of the finalists. Maybe you won't be surprised at who won! Some decent works were cut...with no truly rational explanation. Again, watch the online videos.

But wow. I couldn't wait to get online... go to the Bravo site...read judge comments - react on messageboards.

Truly a fun way to get inside the fine art judging and creating process.