Black Swan Arts Open 2024, Judge Profile
David Trigg
Art Critic
David Trigg is a writer, critic and art historian based in Bristol. He has written widely on contemporary art for books and major art journals, including The Art Newspaper, ArtReview, Studio International, Art Quarterly, and Art Monthly. He is the author of Reading Art (Phaidon Press, 2018).
In conversation with David
How would you describe your work as an art critic?
My writing is born from curiosity about art and the ideas of artists. For me, writing is a form of thinking: both the expression and exploration of an idea. It is also about sharing what I find with others.
How did you become an art critic?
I initially trained as a painter and had romantic notions of becoming a successful artist, but instead of buying my work, people kept paying me to write about art. When I found that writing paid more of the bills than painting did, it was time to switch track. It was more a case of being in the right place at the right time more than anything else.
What are you drawn to in an exhibition or a piece of work?
It simply has to intrigue me. It can be the way something looks, or an idea in the work; if it makes me curious, I’ll want to find out more.
Can you describe what criteria you think makes a piece of work ‘work’?
A good piece of art should never bore you; each time you look at it, there should be something else to discover, whether that be visual, emotional or intellectual.
What is ‘art’?
An expression of human creativity that primarily foregrounds the visual, intellectual, and emotional over the utilitarian. But art cannot be contained by simple definitions!
What (in your opinion) is the biggest challenge artists face today?
Each artist will have their own challenges, but one of the greatest is the perennial challenge of balancing time and resources – how does one pay for a studio and materials, not to mention bills, and still have time and energy for actually making art.
Can you tell us why you bought a piece of work, how much for and what it means to you?
I am an art critic, I can’t afford to buy art!
What is the most valuable contribution ‘art’ makes to society?
Art helps us to see the world in new ways and from different, often surprising perspectives. It helps us to become more socially aware, and more connected to the world around us.