Inverness’s tiniest art exhibition opens on Monday after a rather bigger response than anyone expected.
What started as a slightly odd idea to hang a few CD-sized artworks in an Inverness olive oil shop has turned into an exhibition of around 112 original works of art from more than 40 artists.
And, somewhere along the way, Oil & Vinegar Inverness owner Paul Haigh has also accidentally become a gallery carpenter.
The Little Picture opens at Oil & Vinegar on Union Street on Monday 28 September, coinciding with Inverness Fringe.
The rules were deliberately simple; every artist was given exactly the same amount of space: 120 × 120mm – roughly the size of the front of a CD case, professional artists, amateurs and people who had never exhibited before were all invited to have a go, there was no entry fee, every picture had to be offered for sale for no more than £100, and Oil & Vinegar would take no commission whatsoever – if an artwork sells for £75, the artist gets £75.
Paul initially wondered whether enough people would enter to make the idea work, but that particular problem disappeared fairly quickly.
Paula said, “I think we’re sitting at about 112 pictures now. I’d originally imagined a nice little exhibition in one part of the shop. Then the entries kept arriving and I realised I had to work out how on earth to display all of them. The last week has therefore involved considerably more MDF, bits of timber, measuring, sawing and mild panic than I had anticipated.”
The solution is six purpose-built display boards, each holding rows of artworks in clear CD cases. At the time of writing, three are finished.
Paul continued, “Three boards down, three to go. I’m considerably more relaxed about the whole thing than I was a few days ago. Ask me again on Sunday.”
But behind the slightly improvised gallery construction is an idea Paul believes has genuinely worked. Every artist has exactly the same physical space. An established artist’s work can sit immediately alongside something made by somebody exhibiting for the very first time – with neither receiving a bigger frame, a better position or more wall space because of their experience.
Paul said, “That was really the point. You can’t look at the size of something on the wall and decide which artist is supposed to be important. Everyone got the same 120mm square and the same little plastic case. What they’ve done with that tiny space has been extraordinary, and the variety is fantastic. When you put more than a hundred completely different interpretations of the same format together, it stops looking like a little idea remarkably quickly.”
The exhibition includes work in a variety of styles and media, with artists ranging from experienced exhibitors to complete newcomers. Rather than selecting a small number of works from those submitted, all eligible entries were accepted.
Despite being surrounded for the rest of the year by olive oils, balsamics, pasta and Italian food, the completed boards will remain in the shop for considerably longer than originally planned.
The Little Picture launches alongside Inverness Fringe on Monday 28 September, but the exhibition will now remain on display at Oil & Vinegar Inverness until the end of October.
All of the artworks are available for the public to view and those offered for sale cost no more than £100, with 100% of the stated selling price going to the artist.
Paul added, “Oil & Vinegar is quite definitely not an art gallery, but apparently it is one now. We’ve had such enthusiasm from the artists that it seemed ridiculous to take everything down after just a week. So the pictures are staying for October. It also means people don’t have to rush. Come in, have a look, choose a favourite, buy one if you fall in love with it – and you can still buy some olive oil while you’re here. We haven’t completely lost the plot.”
And after several days building exhibition boards, Paul has one final ambition for opening day: “Mostly I’d just like all six boards to still be attached to the wall.”