THE ART OF SALFORD PUZZLED BY MYSTERY ARTWORK AT CORNERSTONE GALLERY

The Art Of Salford group are holding their annual exhibition at The Cornerstone Gallery, Langworthy Road, with such artists as  Tony Easom, Broady, Philip Westcott, Alan Moss, Phil Know, Chelsea Entwistle etc exhibiting their work in the gallery

However a new and mysterious piece of artwork has suddenly appeared, unannounced and it is causing quite a stir, the painting would be best described as being in the Abstract style and has the signature, R, Mutt 1917.

I googled the name R.Mutt and was astonished to see that this was the name used by Henri-Robert-Marcel Duchamp when he shocked the art world by exhibiting an upside down urinal at an exhibition in New York in you guessed it..1917.

So, who is the mysterious Salford Marcel Duchamp? an art terrorist? prankster? a shy but serious artist, a possible genius? or a famous artist having a joke in the style of Banksy, will we ever know?

I spoke to the prominent Salford artist. Philip Westcott who has several pieces of artwork in the exhibition, who told me,

Quote

 

"It appeared in the gallery organised by Tony Easom a few days ago who is curating the exhibition, it was placed on top of another painting, but has since been given it's own space, which I agree with.

I seriously would put this up against the likes of Picasso etc  and to me it holds as much merit, there is no criteria for the artwork exhibited, anybody can submit their work and this is what has happened here, albeit not in the normal way.

Who knows it could the work of a famous artist having a prank, but is has certainly done the exhibition no harm with the publicity we are getting and it also good publicity for the mysterious artist, who I do hope attends The Meet The Artist night on Thursday 31st  March"

 

So who is the mystery artist and also if he doesn't attend what happens to the artwork? can it be sold without his permission, more questions than answers and perhaps this is what R.Mutt wanted all along, a prank to get people talking. 

I think the person must have some knowledge of the art world to name drop R.Mutt and I will be there on 31st March in the hope he/she makes an appearance.

Finally go along to the exhibition which is showcasing the talent we have in Salford, with a great and varied collection on view and all for sale, and some of the artist are kindly donating some money from their sales to aid the crisis in Ukraine.

R. Mutt, please take a bow we are all intrigued!