12 x 12

Overview

I don't care if the number 12 has a perfect number of divisors and if the sum of its divisors is also a perfect number. To me it is not a sublime number, just awkward and misleading. It's the number that made primary school times tables actually difficult, it's the length of a full-sized Subway sandwich that's too big and double the length of a Subway sandwich that's too small, and it tricks you into thinking that you're going to get 12 days of presents come Christmas time.

The only time when 12 is a good number is when it refers to the number of artists showing at WATIM's 12x12 exhibition. This is because they consist of Daek, Drewfunk, Ears, Edward Woodley, Gary Seaman, Gimiks Born, Mark Alsweiler, Rone, Sean Morris, Shannon Crees, Shida and Troy Archer — some of the country's most sought after urban artists. On Friday 22 July they will be exhibiting 12 artworks at Sydney’s aMBUSH gallery, and each artwork will be 12x12 inches. If you have dodecaphobia (a fear of the number 12) it’s probably best to stay at home on opening night, but you can still purchase the works through an online catalogue on the 23rd.

Image: Shannon Crees, 2011