Bea Last tells us about her experience of being at the VAO25 – Visual Arts Open 2025 FINALIST EXHIBITION at The Minster Building, London EC3. October 9-12 2025. Supported by DGUNLIMITED through EXPAND HORIZONS funding.
I was delighted to hear that the installation piece “The Red Bags” had been selected
for the VAO – Visual Arts Open 2025, in partnership with the VAA – Vsual Arts
Association. This prestigious exhibition was held at The Minster Building, London
EC3, in the heart of London’s financial District from October 9 th to October 12 th . This would be the 5 th reimaging of this particular installation having begun its journey back in 2022 at The Gracefield Art Centre, Dumfries, where it then travelled on to The Oxo Building, Southbank, London, The Aesthetica Art Prize in York, and The Laguna Arte Prize in Venice 2024. Each time a different location, a different background and space to respond to.
Setting Up…
The Minster Building is amazing. Both at once historical and contemporary it now houses multiple spaces for corporate residents .The current building opened in 1958, the sixth in line to stand on that site. The fourth was burnt down in the Great
fire of London and the fifth was destroyed during the Blitz in World War II. Mincing Lane where the building is situated was the world’s leading centre for tea and spice
trading.
On entering the site you are met with a huge white space and an awe-inspiring atrium. Looking up you see many levels with work spaces encased in glass that can
only be reached by passing through security barriers – As the install began it actually felt like a piece of performance art with all four receptionists , house manager and security all standing close by and watching with curiosity. Not to mention, on looking up at that fantastic atrium, to see more folk watching from above. Something for me to think about in the future perhaps. It was great to have the opportunity to meet and get to know the VAO Team and curators and a sense of building on relationships. Hugely supportive and a couple of genuine friendships were made.
Six hours later, working non- stop, the Installation was completed. 700 hand crafted sculptural bags sat in the middle of this expansive white space with the atrium directly above. I tend to immerse myself in the creative process, replicating the
installation in the moment, organically. Not set to any plan, I create in response to the space I’m given. Stepping back i would say it was definitely a show piece, especially due to the space i was given to create it. And…I noticed I had been given prime publicity having been chosen for the VAO poster!
The VIP Event
The VIP Event on the opening evening was a blur of introductions to curators, art collectors, gallerists and other participating artists. These events are so important for networking and making new connections. They are also important for putting faces to names that I may have connected with online. Physically meeting can take that connection to another level which is useful for future opportunities. It was an amazing evening, busy, buzzy, and full of opportunity. Business cards all gone, my face put to my name, connections, conversations, introductions and a review specifically of The Red Bags which can be read on my website www.bealast.com
A mental note to myself at this point. Interesting to see this particular Installation, which is a response to conflict and humanitarian crisis in such a corporate environment . Using my installations as a tool to generate dialogue that at times can be challenging, it was interesting to feel that its subject matter had more weight, more focus and intent. A more sombre reality check, especially in the heart of London’s financial district.
Two more days followed of workshops and talks both by fellow artists and curators full of inspiration. A very busy, very intense and physically draining week but absolutely worth stepping out of my comfort zone for. It was also fantastic to see that a fellow artist from Dumfries and Galloway had also reached the finals under the Illustration category Susan Murray is an illustrator that I had the pleasure of mentoring through UPLAND this past year. Super proud to see one of my mentees had also reached the finals of the VAO25.
A huge Thank You to DGUnlimited for the EXPAND HORIZONS AWARD. This support was invaluable. My creative practice is non commercial and as such there is always an emphasis on finance. Couriers, Travel, Accommodation and more. As a professional artist supporting my practice through teaching and mentoring, it can be challenging. The funding for me, is also a recognition, an endorsement that I’m doing ok out there in the very big world of Art. In doing so i am also representing Dumfries and Galloway as a region full of creativity in many disciplines which is so
well supported. New connections have been made outwith D&G which can only lead on to further opportunities. The whole experience is something I will spend time reviewing and processing and learning from. And this of course will feed into any mentoring I do within D&G, supporting our up and coming young aspiring artists.
