Nina Murdoch

“It has been a great privilege to be a selector on this year's ING Discerning Eye; having won the ING Purchase Prize previously when invited by Sir Tim Rice.  A few years before that Stuart Pearson Wright had also asked me, as had Robert Hiscox before that.  On each occasion the invitation prompted my own fantasy as to who would be on my list of desert island artists.     I was therefore thrilled to be asked, but it was a difficult process.  I know and admire so many talented artists, so I tried to create a diverse group: in varying stages of their careers and working in different mediums.  Some are already familiar names and others I think will soon be.  As with all great artists, they have an individual and original voice.  They have all inspired me, and I am proud to have the opportunity to exhibit their work.       The open selection was a different type of challenge.  I tried to consider each work on its own merit, rather than limit my selection to works which fitted within a particular theme.  I selected a large number of what I thought were the best works, but then slept on my choices and whittled them down to the ones that remained with me in the days after.  It was hard to make these choices in such a short time frame, but I think I have a great selection of work from talented artists.  I hope you enjoy.     It was also wonderful to work alongside my fellow selectors.  I was a little daunted at first, but they made it a hugely enjoyable and memorable experience.”