DOPPIA VISIONE: L'Arte e il Tempo del Pensiero a Napoli – discovering new horizons

My first exhibition was a big challenge for me, but also a valuable lesson. From the very beginning, I had a feeling that it would be a unique experience, although there were difficulties and unforeseen situations. The venue – a church – was really unusual and inspired reflection. Some people may be surprised, because it is not a typical art gallery, but that is precisely what gave the event its unique atmosphere. However, the organisation and preparations themselves were not without problems. First of all, I had to deal with a lack of complete information from the organisers. I had to ask a lot of questions, which is not ideal in my situation, especially considering that this was my first exhibition and I had no experience in such events. I lacked basic information, a file with all the details – a kind of ‘pill’ with instructions that would help me organise everything. I knew I had to learn from scratch, but this caused more stress and confusion. Nevertheless, I required proper mounting of the paintings (I had two mounts for each work), but my works were not hung as planned. One of the paintings, ‘Eye’ in the shape of a diamond, was hung incorrectly, which made me very sad. I felt that despite my commitment and preparation, some organisational issues were not worked out.

I found out about the exhibition through an Instagram message from the gallery. At first, it seemed like a 50/50 proposition to me – on the one hand, a presentation of my work and the opportunity to sell it, on the other, promotion through posts and videos. I decided to verify the gallery's credibility – I checked their website, emails, and VAT number in the VIES database. Everything looked fine, but the IG profile aroused my suspicions. I found several accounts that looked similar, duplicated the same content, and had very low reach (I counted as many as 10!). Ultimately, I got the impression that the promotion of this exhibition was not of a high standard, and the number of likes and comments was symbolic. All this made me wonder whether it was worth getting involved in this collaboration.

Communication with the gallery was a challenge. Over time, I felt that conversations were becoming increasingly difficult, and the level of support and information was decreasing. I had the impression that the approaching exhibition date was exacerbating these difficulties. I found out about the delivery date for the paintings two days before the event, which naturally forced me to decide to deliver the works to the exhibition venue myself. Later, when I confirmed the delivery location again, I was given a different, earlier date, which meant that I no longer had the option of shipping them. All of this increased my stress and the feeling that I was left to fend for myself.

During the preparations and the exhibition itself, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I was happy that my works were there, on display, and that I could show them to a wide audience. On the other hand, I felt disappointed by the lack of professionalism, lack of complete information and general support. I rarely feel bad after admitting my ignorance, but I think I made a mistake by admitting my lack of experience in exhibiting my work. Despite these difficulties, I have no regrets. It was a valuable lesson for me – I learned how important it is to prepare thoroughly, check partners, communicate and have full control over logistics. I also understood how important it is not to rely solely on external entities, but to have your own tools and plans for the future. 

Only people from the office and some artists attended the opening. I don't know exactly how many people visited the exhibition, but I am still happy that at least those few people saw my paintings, because I know that they caught their eye. This is important to me because, despite everything, my work was noticed and appreciated. The exhibition is over, the paintings have been returned to me, and I feel that I am richer in experience and knowledge. Now I know what to look for, what to improve and what to avoid in the future. 

I would like to say thank you to everyone who supported me, for their words of encouragement and for believing in me despite everything. It was an important step for me, and at the same time the beginning of a new path, full of challenges and opportunities. I decided to continue working with the agency because now I know what to expect and how to prepare myself. In addition, I am planning another exhibition in a place I was already planning to visit, so this collaboration seems more beneficial and instructive to me.

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Deux Meus is a company with a passion for art, offering unique paintings, handicrafts and decorations to add character to any interior. Discover my diverse collection!

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