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From: Nned Thisom Category: Art Date: 12 May 2009 Time: 02:20 PM Review: This exhibition is one that always raises a smirk on my face. The judges apparently travel the length and breadth of the country whittling down a longlist of young painters (compiled by them) to a shortlist, this year of 26 artists. Of course, this not being a open submission prize the longlist is mainly comprised of ex-students/mates of the judges. The judges this year are all abstract painters, Mali Morris, Philip Allen and Alexis Harding. Perhaps then, it comes as little surprise that much of the work in the show is abstract. Happily this is an opportunity to take a look at what three 'quite good' abstract painters think is interesting abstract painting. Also happily, it means they haven't done anything as stupid as pretend that painting is interesting because it can be sculpture or video as well, as the jury of the first of these shows did a couple of years ago. I can't pretend to have found anything that interesting in the abstract work, a variety, much of it quite fresh but vague, only one hard edged 'trendy triangles' painting that was the most stylised also in it's colour combinations. There was a sense that a few of the pictures owed a huge debt to the abstract work of Picabia. Of the other work the Mosley painting was typically fantastic, (as opposed to absurd, rather than good), the Wier typically RCA in it's look and the token political painting, a big degree standard colour by numbers monstrosity based on a bombed Beiruit. I think. Leaving this show really made me want to start a painting prize, because I always have faith that there must actually be some 'quite good' painting out there somewhere. Alas, it is not to be found in the Jerwood.