Gary Lawrence, Ye Olde Keyhole Surgery, Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2021 - Drawing Discussion

Drawing Projects UK is delighted to produce this short film of Gary Lawrence made in lieu of an online Drawing Discussion event as part of the series held in association with the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2021 exhibition and supported using public funding by Arts Council England. This short film features Gary Lawrence talking about his drawing practice as he makes work and reflecting on his career to date and the nature of open exhibitions. Known as the most prestigious annual open exhibition for drawing in the UK, the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2021 received 3,300 entries from 1,673 drawing practitioners living in 46 countries for the open exhibition and awards. From the thousands of submissions, 114 works by 99 practitioners were shortlisted. Five of them received awards worth £27,000 on Wednesday 29 September at Trinity Buoy Wharf in London. Gary Lawrence received the First Prize of £8,000 for his work, Ye Olde Keyhole Surgery, 2020. Gary was inspired by The Dormition, a medieval icon featuring the Virgin Mary laying on her death bed, which reminded him of an operating table (he had recently had an operation), which gave him a new subject... "keyhole surgery NHS 1392 style". The drawing borrows religious imagery, including the "NHS surgeons as angels, embodying the power of good in the struggle of live against death. Midway through making the drawing along comes COVID which (given all the NHS references) gives the appearance this is a COVID piece. It’s not, this is just a coincidence." Gary Lawrence (b.1959 Essex, UK) studied at Braintree College (1976-78); Portsmouth Polytechnic (1978-81); BA Fine Art, Eastern Illinois University, USA (1981-82); MA Fine Art, Southern Illinois University, USA (1990-92). Selected group shows: Trinity Buoy Drawing Prize 2018, London and UK tour (2018-19); John Moores, Walker Gallery, Liverpool (2018); BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London (2017). Solo exhibitions include: Beecroft Gallery, Southend (2013); Christopher Stokes Gallery, Chicago (1996); Artemisia Gallery, Chicago (1991). Recent awards include: John Moores Visitor Choice Award (2018); Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2018, Second Prize (2018); Jerwood Drawing Prize 2017, First Prize (2017). He lives and works in Essex, UK. Gary Lawrence has been featured in the UK’s most prestigious drawing prize several times. The selection panel changes each year and the work is presented to the panels anonymously as they are tasked to select drawings based on the visual values alone and without reference to further information. Gary Lawrence received the First Prize in 2011 (chosen by selectors Iwona Blazwick, Tim Marlow, Rachel Whiteread), the First Prize in 2017 (selected by David Dibosa, Helen Legg, Michael Simpson), the Second Prize in 2018 (selected by Nigel Hall, Megan Piper, Chris Stephens) and received a Special Commendation in 2013 (from selectors Kate Brindley, Michael Craig-Martin, Charlotte Mullins). The film is produced by Drawing Projects UK, directed by Fiona Cassidy, with camera and editor, Tom Stafford-Hughes. #TBWDP21 #TrinityBuoyWharfDrawingPrize #TrinityBuoyWharf #DrawingProjectsUK #DrawingDiscussions #ACEsupported #GaryLawrence