Ads to art

Famous orator, philosopher and all-round good guy Bill Cosby once said, ‘The very first law in advertising is to avoid the concrete promise and cultivate the delightfully vague.’

Bill’s mention of the ‘delightfully vague’ is precisely the parameters set out for this year’s Square Art Competition, which is currently looking for entrants from anyone in the advertising industry.

The competition, organised by Square Post production and Disqo digital production company, is an annual event challenging members of the advertising industry – in whatever field – to flex their creative muscles and create their very own piece of artwork. 

And the theme this year – as (perhaps) a nod to the Crosby  – is ‘Blank Canvas.’ In other words, do what the bejesus you like.

Ewan MacLeod, Golden Square’s executive producer, says, ‘With all the events in the past we have set a theme. This will be the most exciting one yet as it’s an open brief – a blank canvas – so the range of work will be tremendous.

‘I’m looking forward to seeing just how talented our industry is, free of the shackles of a client brief.’

The competition, which is now in its ninth year, will see all accepted works displayed at the Square Art event on 24 March, which will include a piece by a performance artist for the very first time.

The best artworks on display are decided by a panel of judges including White Cube artist Harland Miller, and the winner will nab themselves a swanker dinner for two at Scotts in London’s Mayfair.

All the work will be for sale after the show, with the proceeds going to London homeless charity, Centrepoint.

Past themes have included love, green issues, summer and the city and last year’s theme, reworked masters, but it’s hoped that by removing the constraints of a particular theme, a broader spectrum of artists will contribute in a wider selection of media including painting, sculpture and digital work.

MacLeod adds, ‘This year we want to freshen it up and get a new crowd.’

The deadline for Square Art entries is 9 March, 2011. For more submissions information visit http://www.goldensq.com/squareart