A TWO-man team of experts was on the island this week to judge the efforts of 96 artists hoping to see their work represented in the Bermuda National Gallery's upcoming Biennial Exhibit.

In agreeing to oversee the selection process for one of the most prestigious exhibits of local contemporary art, Americans Bruce Katsiff and Kendal Henry accepted the mammoth task of forming a body of work which would best represent the talent of local artists ? no small challenge when the gallery's display space will allow for less than 25 per cent of the 413 pieces submitted.

"We don't know who these people are," Mr. Katsiff said in explanation of why the blind jury system, which dates back to the 19th century, works so well.

"We don't look at their resum?s. We don't look at their backgrounds. We don't look at their exhibition records. We really don't know who they are. And since we're both from another part of the world, we have had no personal contact with them; we're really completely independent."

With such parameters in place, the jurors said, it was a special piece that stood out from the rest of the submissions. And in 95 per cent of the cases, what one regarded as special was rated just as highly by the other.

"On a basic level we look for technique and composition," explained Mr. Henry. "Having looked at a lot of art, there are certain things about a piece of art, certain images, you're drawn to. Instantly you can say yes I like that, or no I don't like that."

Both Mr. Katsiff and Mr. Henry are internationally-renowned jurors with a wealth of experience; the former being the director and CEO of the James A. Michener Museum in the writer's hometown of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, while Mr. Henry is manager of the Permanent Art Programme for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Arts for Transit of New York.

A challenge was comparing different forms of media, Mr. Katsiff said.

"One moment you're looking at woodwork; the next you're looking at photography; the next moment you're looking at a painting. You've got to change your context."

It was especially important that artists kept in mind their works would be compared against those of others ? and that jurors be capable of actually doing so, he added.

"While looking at the woodworkers (you have to consider) what have you seen from people working in wood in the last ten years? How familiar are you? I think that's as much the issue. Artists will frequently do something in kind of an isolation and think, 'This is terrific. Look at my superb control of the material. Look at how expressive this is.'

"But then there's so and so out here and if we put those two pieces side by side it becomes evident that (the artist doesn't) really have so much control; that this one over here really explored this idea in ways that you hadn't even thought about."

Both men said they had been impressed by the quality of the work they had found here ? especially as it derived from an island population of 60,000.

"Some of the quality is really good," said Mr. Henry. "It compares to what (we see elsewhere). For a place like this, of 60,000 people, it has a good representation."

A list of confirmed entries will be announced by the BNG at the beginning of next month.

q The Bacardi Limited Biennial 2004 Exhibition of Contemporary Bermuda Art presented in association with CellularONE will be on display at the Gallery between May 1 and September 3.