- Venue
- Nottingham Trent University
- Location
- East Midlands
Being a first year student, I was filled with a sense of excitement when visiting the end of year degree show; after all, this is where I can expect to be at the end of my educational life at Nottingham Trent University. ‘this is where I am going to be’ is a statement that my friends were probably tired of listening to me say as we entered the studios, however, rather disappointingly my enthusiasm and excited was in my own opinion not met with exciting pieces of art.
Morrissey once said of something ‘it says nothing to me about my own life’ and unfortunately this was the reoccurring thought in my head whilst I wandered round the studios trying to become personally interested and involved with some of the exhibited works. However, I have to say that I was fascinated by the installation piece shown by Layla Testi in which we were played an audio of what appeared to be a conversation from a speed date. What intrigued me was the way in which we not only her the external dialogue but also what the ‘daters’ are thinking internally. This battle between what is consciously thought and what is actually said makes for a really interesting and witty piece of work which is fronted by the penetrating stares of two still figures on a screen fittingly wearing disguises to match their disguised feeling and thoughts.
Personally I really enjoy art which stands for itself, and doesn’t set out to exclude or isolate any demographic by being layered with niche meaning and pseudo-psychology, to call some of the exhibited work pretentious would be a step too far but it has to be said that I think at times this word was on the tip of my tongue. Another piece that broke the seemingly inevitable uttering of this word was Samuel Minton’s installation. This piece consisted of a room transformed by kitsch and retro items, empty beer cans and smoked cigarettes, vintage televisions, clocks and mirrors and lived in sofas and worn books. I was instantly taken aback by the room, however, upon entering I did not experience feelings of isolation and loneliness that was stated as the pieces intention, on the contrary I was overwhelmed by a feeling of warmth and affection that I think was brought on by the room being drowned in nostalgia. This direct contrast left me feeling conflicted- although the piece was successful and impressive in its presentation, form, structure and delivery. I consider the context to be somewhat misjudged.
The success story of the exhibition was the way in which it was presented as a whole, i think the layout of the pieces in the space was something that was evidently professional and well thought. Although many of the pieces didn’t invite my involvement or capture my imagination, they were all presented well.
