Degree Shows 2019: alien structures, a multisensory installation, and protest art applique
For our first a-n Instagram take over this week, a-n’s Narbi Price was on hand to post from the Fine Art Degree Show at Newcastle University, where he is currently a PhD candidate.
As Price explained in his first post featuring Abii Hampsey’s multi-paneled paintings (top image) informed by the folklore of her native Lancaster, “I’m lucky enough to teach onto this course, so I’ve seen a lot of this work develop.”
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Referring to Beth Allsopp’s installation of “tactile sculptures that play with colour and weight”, Price explained that the works “take the material properties of the fabric and form bodily yet alien structures”.
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This installation by Matilda Sutton is exhibited in Newcastle University’s Hatton Gallery. “The work makes me think of Angela Carter’s versions of fairytales,” said Price. “It brings together drawing, painting, sculpture and applique, suggesting artefacts from some unknown narrative. There’s a real theme of the folkloric running through a lot of the work at Newcastle University Degree Show this year.”
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Describing the work of What is Robin up to as “nebulous, difficult and intriguing”, Price said the artist’s multidisciplinary practice “looks at how art and activism can coexist and inform each other.”
The Newcastle University Fine Art Degree Show 2019 has now closed but will be at Copeland Park in London, 5-7 July.
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FK McLoone concluded their mini-tour of Scotland’s degree shows by journeying north to see the Gray’s School of Art Degree Show in Aberdeen. Having taken a three-hour train trip from Glasgow, McLoone thought it “fitting that the theme running through much of the work on show is a reconnection with the surrounding natural landscape”.
Kristina Aburrow’s installation explores how engagement with the environment is influenced by factors such as history, inherited knowledge and cultural identity.
“Aburrow’s mixed-media work allows her materials and the landscape to directly transform each other, celebrating the ecology of the north east,” explained McLoone.
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Posting several images of Emily Strachan’s work, which is influenced by ‘sense-appreciative rituals and games across different cultures’, McLoone said: “You might smell Strachan’s work before you find it, as this artist sets out to create a multisensory experience incorporating the visual, tactile and olfactory. The work requires us to slow down and engage in a richer perception of the organic materials at play.”
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For their final degree show post of the 2019 season, McLoone highlighted Amy Barnett’s installation which, in contrast to other works in the show, “invites us to connect with the less-than-natural world that may exist long after we’re gone”.
“Attempting to ‘aetheticise the Anthropocene’, Barnett creates tactile geological artefacts from synthetic composite materials, enhanced by a crunchy, sensory soundtrack made in collaboration with Bea Dawkins,” explained McLoone. “From this work, it’s clear the artists at Gray’s School of Art are concerned not only with where they stand but with where they’re headed.”
Gray’s School of Art Degree Show continues until 22 June.
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“Wow what a show and what a lot of incredible work!” exclaimed Jenny Steele as she made her first post from the Manchester School of Art ‘Everything Starts From Something’ Degree Show.
“I started off at Manchester School of Art’s ‘new’ building, the Benzie, where you are greeted by BA Interactive Arts student Imogen Ellerby Sansom’s sculpture, Clandestine, in the foyer,” said Steele.
“I had seen multiple images of this work before I arrived today, and it doesn’t disappoint! A very ambitious and commanding work. I’m told Imogen had painted out the extra lines on the fabric (there were too many and you can see it on close inspection). What an undertaking, well done Imogen!”
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From the Textiles in Practice show, Steele highlighted the work of Fern Cooke which she said “uses a low-fi patchwork approach to raising awareness to her concerns around climate change. Her ‘protest art’ gets straight to the point using the language of banners and applique.”
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James Hall’s Three Dimensional Design Degree Show project, Blown, explores the idea that the ‘making behind an object holds greater value than the final outcome’. Describing his work as “striking and curious”, Steele explained that he “uses heat and pressure to transform plastic into these intriguing, odd sculptures”.
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From the Fine Art show at Manchester School of Art, which is located in the “bright and spacious” exhibition spaces of the school’s Grosvenor building, Steele posted Candice Dehnavi’s installation which explores what the artist refers to as ‘the distance of cultural familiarity’.
“Her memories of an Iranian-English upbringing find themselves exaggerated through dreamlike imagery that communicates hazily remembered experiences and stories,” said Steele.
Manchester School of Art ‘Everything Starts From Something’ Degree Show 2019 continues until 19 June.
Coming next: Later this week, a-n’s Stephen Palmer will be posting from the The Cass Summer Show 2019 in London, and next week Nicola Naismith will be visiting the show at Norwich University of the Arts. Follow #andegrees19 for all our Degree Shows posts.
Images:
1. Abii Hampsey, Newcastle University Fine Art Degree Show 2019. Photo: Narbi Price
2. Beth Allsopp, Newcastle University Fine Art Degree Show 2019.
3. Matilda Sutton, Newcastle University Fine Art Degree Show 2019.
4. What is Robin up, Newcastle University Fine Art Degree Show 2019.
5. Kristina Aburrow, Gray’s School of Art Degree Show 2019.
6. Emily Strachan, Gray’s School of Art Degree Show 2019.
7. Amy Barnett, Gray’s School of Art Degree Show 2019.
8. Imogen Ellerby Sansom, Clandestine, Manchester School of Art ‘Everything Starts From Something’ Degree Show 2019.
9. Fern Cooke, Manchester School of Art ‘Everything Starts From Something’ Degree Show 2019.
10. James Hall, Blown, Manchester School of Art ‘Everything Starts From Something’ Degree Show 2019.
11. Candice Dehnavi, Manchester School of Art ‘Everything Starts From Something’ Degree Show 2019.
