Don't Jump! Image from The Digerati Life
A while back Hrag Vartanian posted a short item and link, Art Critics Can Kill, about the Russian-French painter Nicholas deStael, who jumped out a window after receiving a negative review. OK, that's an extreme reaction (the artist suffered from depression) but if you've ever gotten a bad review, you understand the impulse.
The pain or disappointment caused by a less-than-positive response to your work can be great, especially after the effort in creating, delivering and installing a show. Especially after the press release and postcards you or your dealer may have sent to critics with high hopes and fingers crossed. Especially after the euphoria of the opening, when you're surrounded by enthusiasm and kind words.
The pain or disappointment caused by a less-than-positive response to your work can be great, especially after the effort in creating, delivering and installing a show. Especially after the press release and postcards you or your dealer may have sent to critics with high hopes and fingers crossed. Especially after the euphoria of the opening, when you're surrounded by enthusiasm and kind words.
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So how do you deal with a negative review?
Ignore It
What negative review? Someone didn't respond favorably to your work. They didn't see it as you intended it, so they didn't get it or appreciate it. Their loss.
Focus on the Best Part
Sometimes you get so freaked by one negative element that you can't appreciate the positive response shown elsewhere in the review. Actually, a good review often mixes a little negative with the positive. It might be an editorial mandate for balance, or simply the way the critic approaches the subject. (One may start off negatively and then build to a positive denouement, while another may write all good things and then stick in a barb at the end. These are writing styles as much as critical opinions.) Besides, even you have favorite pieces in a show as well as the one you secretly consider a dog. So maybe the critic is just giving voice to something that you might actually agree with if you could be a bit more objective.
Spin It
This is what film companies do all the time in their PR. One critic's "What a monumental piece of crap!" becomes "Monumental!" in the ad. I'm not suggesting you do this, but it's a good lesson in resilience and damage control.
Get Over it
This is not the only show you'll ever have in your life. Savor the success of having created an exhibition you're proud of. You like it. Your dealer/gallery director/curator likes it. Your collectors like it. Now get over it and move on. Is there an image of your work in this negative review? Lucky you!
List it On the Resume
So what if it's not the kindest commentary on your work? You know the saying, Just spell the name right. On a resume only the critic and the publication are noted, not the qualitative particulars about your work. Negative attention is better than no attention at all.
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Learn From It--Or Not
If you look at the work objectively--and that may not be possible for some time--maybe you'll find the critic saw something you didn't. If that's the case, learn from it. Otherwise, ignore it.
Is it ever worth writing to the editor to complain about a bad review? My instinct is to say that unless a critic attacks you personally, let it go. We've all read defensive letters by writers, architects and artists. They just sound whiny. A review is one person's opinion, after all.
Over to You
Have you had a negative review? How have you dealt with it emotionally? Do you feel it has affected your career? Did it affect the specific exhibition or sales? Did it affect the relationship with your dealer?
Have you had a negative review? How have you dealt with it emotionally? Do you feel it has affected your career? Did it affect the specific exhibition or sales? Did it affect the relationship with your dealer?
