Rod Kitson, resident artist at Surrey Quays, is hosting the ‘End of Year Show 25’ at his gallery-studio within the shopping centre.
It opens on December 13th, and the artist stresses that no experience is necessary to enter the show – you do not have to be a professional or have any experience to be part of it.
Rod said: “I want there to be as few barriers to entry as possible. I know what it is like to feel judged and rejected from exhibitions, and it makes me feel sad and misunderstood. I don’t want any of that energy around the shows that I host.”
It is the fifth edition of the annual open held at his space upstairs at the mall, which began with the Art of Isolation back in 2020, celebrating the creative output of people during lockdown.
Rod said: “Around 1,000 artworks have been displayed since the first edition, with almost as many artists involved. The shows usually squeeze in around 200-250 works of art, from painting to drawing, to digital, mixed media, sculpture and film, all hung in an eclectic salon hang.
“I love ‘outsider art’ – non-academic, non-trained art. It feels raw and uncontrived. That’s my background too. I’m outside of the art establishment, and I like the idea of providing a platform for people who might also feel insecure about their place in this strangely conformist and elitist world which could be far more welcoming.
“You don’t have to be an oddball, misfit or weirdo to enter, but I’m coming out as one right now. Being different is cool. It’s what art is all about. No-one will be rejected.”
Closing date for entries is this Sunday November 30 and there is a charge to enter – £15 for small works, £25 for larger pieces. But Rod holds free space for local groups, schools and charities to ensure the exhibition retains a community feel.
“This year we have the Bede Centre entering artwork from their members, with Bacon’s College a welcome fixture on the exhibition’s roster.
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“I will also make concessions for people who are on low incomes, so feel free to reach out,” he added. “The only entries I will ask to be reconsidered, is if the content is unsuitable for a family audience.”
The scope of the show has grown since it began in 2020. Rod said: “The original idea was to showcase the creative endeavours of people in isolation through Covid. The name stuck, and the Art of Isolation became what I called the studio when I became permanent here.
“The success of the first exhibition gave me the confidence to make it a regular thing. It’s nice to get people together at the end of the year.
“There is no theme as such this time, it’s a bookmark to mark and celebrate this 12-month period. Ideally, submissions should have been created in 2025. I was thinking about technology a lot this year, and how that speaks to artists, how it affects art and its production. That may have affected the design of this year’s poster and website – stripped back, raw, no fluff, just the message.
“The growth of AI has raised questions about how we produce our work. And whether we are threatened as creatives by the rise of artificial intelligence. On a surface level, maybe. But on a deeper, more spiritual level, I think not. Machines synthesise, humans express feelings, emotions, and are uniquely creative in a way that cannot be faked.
“So how about we use this exhibition to celebrate how human we are, and how unique and special the human experience is? I look forward to seeing your work and more importantly, seeing you, at the opening.”
Exhibition runs Dec 13-Jan 2 at The Art of Isolation, Upper Floor, Surrey Quays shopping centre, SE16 7LL.
Closing date for entries midnight on Nov 30th. Enter your artwork (and more info) at www.rodkitson.com
Entry fees: Small works up to 50cm – £15, Large – £25 (up to 70cm), Online only – £10.
Or collect a physical entry form from the gallery. Any questions email: [email protected]
