You couldn't find two more opposing exhibitions in one venue if you tried. Downstairs the large, upstairs the small, downstairs mostly 'leading artists' of the closed inner circle, upstairs mostly 'emerging artists' of a loosely affiliated group, downstairs the serious competition, upstairs the fun fair. The only thing both shows have in common is a lack of anything new.

Downstairs the inaugural Bank West Contemporary Art Prize exhibition presents large scale images that draw their inspiration from political, social and philosophical concepts, grand illusions that echo a physical reality or reflect aesthetic ideals. There is no doubt about these artists' ability to manipulate their medium very well. They invite viewers into their world and offer no explanation for what is found so the works engage and intrigue. None can be faulted, it's futile to nominate one or a few exhibits for recommendation as each is the best the artists has to offer. You either appreciate the individual's style or not, which doesn't mean the work is any better or worse then another's effort.

There is only one complaint and that is we've seen it all before. In fact, of this 'selection of WA's finest contemporary painters' about a third of the artists competing in this high priced acquisition exhibition also presented similar exhibits, albeit on a smaller scale, in another prestigious acquisition exhibition just last month. Considering this is an inaugural prize, one must ask how the selection of exhibits was made, by artists' names or art works?

Upstairs, the Downsize exhibition offers small scale demonstrations of 'silly' or should I say 'out there'. Whatever. The curator notes how the artists 'are not competing for the attention of a curator for selection' so it seems anything is acceptable. I doubt they are competing for anyone's attention as I took two turns of the West End Gallery wearing a different pair of prescription glasses on each perambulation and still not one exhibit caught my eye sufficiently to cause a halt in my progress. The show goes beyond informal to border on the vacuous and we've seen it all before. Here are the playful one-liners (the title is a pun on the work), the validations (exercising great language to hide poor skill), the lateral thinkers (finding artistic attributes in junk) and provocative statements (conferring profound meaning on happy snaps).

There is one compliment and that goes to The Musical by Taryn Gill and Pilar Mata. These two presenters went outside the square to provide a work of  entertainment/art, and best of all the electronics worked! The concept and the performance are fine while the presentation, like the activity it documented, sneaks up on you until you're smile erupts into a laugh. Which only goes to prove, a good production number can save any show.