Classifying Art

Going to see the Rise of Women Artists exhibition at the Walker Gallery, Liverpool, has got me thinking: does the habit of classifying artwork according to the artists’ gender or race/ethnicity do any good to anyone?

I understand that some groups have traditionally been under-represented in the art establishment, and that exhibitions giving particular attention to these minorities can be seen as trying to give them their fair share of the limelight, or even trying to make amends for the discrimination of the past. However, does it not merely entrench the view that art by ethnic minorities or by women must be viewed differently, and judged by different standards?

I do agree that the art world needs to wake up to the fact that there is a wealth of talent in all sectors of society, and that boundaries and barriers stopping women and ethnic minorities from reaching the very pinnacle of the art world must be abolished once and for all. Furthermore, it is important that the history and development of women and ethnic minority artists is given attention, especially as this has been all but ignored for centuries, whilst the white, middle class, male artist has been put on a pedestal. But does separating the artwork of these under-represented groups from the mainstream merely keep them at the margins or periphery, and make it harder for them to be accepted into the establishment? Should we not see the work of women and ethnic minorities exhibited alongside other artists regardless of their background? That is, should their art not be allowed to do the talking? After all, artists want their work exhibited on its own merit, rather than being given the opportunity to exhibit for any other reason, be it age, gender, sexuality, race or religion. Will it not do far more for the confidence of the individual artist to know that his/her work was good enough to be chosen, and would have been good enough regardless of the identity of the artist, rather than merely being chosen to tick the female or ethnic minority box.