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In Praise of Competitions - 1996 Nissan Art Project - Dermot Boyd
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'I am not a gambler, son
Because I don't like losing�.'
My Dad

Entering Competitions is somewhat like gambling. For the majority you enter, you lose, but the more you enter, you do increase your odds of winning.

Like all gamblers, you assess the odds and make your best bet based on your insightfulness, research, intelligence and skill. But ultimately however you the competitor too rely on your gut instinct and intuition. You follow an architectural intention and an individualistic approach and in this intellectual isolation, you really start to believe in your entry. Self-belief and self-delusion are close cousins in the mind of the competitor and can be a strong tonic.

Finally with competitions, you are always a winner until the results are announced and only then the truth is revealed. A truth defined and imposed on you. A truth that may hurt or a truth that is pure elation and celebration.