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Perhaps the
best thing about student degree exhibitions is the diverse
collection of ideas and ability on show. This year is
no exception at Swansea Institute's offering at the
Alexandra Road campus gallery (within the Stained Glass
department next to Swansea Library).
Swansea Institute
(and the old Swansea College of Art) has always played
a major role in producing leading players in the art
scene in Wales and recently added James Donovan, Alan
Williams, Sarah Hopkins, Heather Simmonds, Torbin Shacht
and our own editor Nigel Williams, amongst a list too
long to include in full here. This is in no small part
to the huge contribution of the highly motivated tutors
within the various departments. The Fine Art / Painting
and Drawing courses have been nurtured by John and Adrienne
Howes (until recently) and Robert Newell. All the tutors
are extremely active and talented artists in their own
right and the courses have supplemental input by notable
contemporary artists such as Iwan Bala and Tim Davies.
This has created an exciting atmosphere within the college
and the final degree exhibition is the showcase for
emerging talent, as well as providing the final set
of marks for degree assessment.
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"Looking at the Sea III" A Video Wall Projection
with Sound
by Anna Papadopoulou.
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Swansea
Institute suffers from not having a gallery that the Fine
Art department can use for regular exhibition, so it's
even more amazing that they continue to produce exciting
degree shows.
Exhibiting is central to the development of a visual artist
and it seems crazy not to have a dedicated space for this
purpose. |
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Last year
the students had to convert an empty factory in Pontardawe
into a gallery space and, although this was a tremendous
experience for the students involved, the students and
staff have to search out suitable spaces each year (to
coincide with the visit of the external examiners).
This year the department managed to acquire the gallery
within the Stained Glass department's building in Alexandra
Road and made full use of the rooms and corridors of
the top floor.
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"Terraced Houses - Afan Valley" Charcoal
£150
Mature student Jean Wanklin proudly displaying one of
her impressive drawings. |
Onec
again, this year, there is a lovely mix of 'traditional'
work with contemporary installations. Perhaps 'Mix' is
the appropriate term since "Russell's Mix" is
the first piece that greets you as you enter the gallery
corridor. Russ Maggs is a local artist, with a great sense
of humour and fascinating imagination. |
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| "Russell's
Mix" is the realisation of just one of Russ' 'rooms
within his head,' as he explains, "My work revolves
around a large corridor in my mind, which has no definite
beginning or end. The corridor has one underlying theme,
this is based around the idea and the concept of industrial
production. Running from this corridor are numerous rooms,
all of which have separate subheadings. I am able to enter
these rooms as and when I feel the need to... I hope the
corridor will continue in my life." |
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"Russell's Mix: We're Happy to HELP" by
Russ Maggs (Installation) |
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On a personal basis I also like to see traditional painting
and drawing skills on display. This year there are some
lovely works by Jean Wanklin, Martina Aydin, Val Thomas,
Emily Morgan, Rachel Davies, Jonathon Thomas and the
naive style of Charlie Aitchison.
The interesting
collection of installations provide the contemporary
balance. There are many issues explored by artists Salamatu
Edwards, Oliver Harvey, Anna Papadopoulou, Adam Richards
and Nicolle Evans-Nicholl.
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A selection of paintings by Val Thomas |
Irene
Thomas, a mature student from Swansea has managed to combine
several techniques and styles to convey her Christian
narrative, "I Am the Door" and "I Am the
Resurrection" being particularly powerful pieces
constructed from six inch nails and burned wood. |
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"I Am the Resurrection" by Irene Thomas |
Typical of
degree shows, there is something to interest everyone
at the Swansea Institute Fine Art exhibition, but perhaps
one that stands out for me is Jenni Setchell's "Memorial
Boxes", a simple idea, the subject matter having
been recreated by many artists in recent years, but this
is a poignant and touching piece, cleverly assembled and
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produced. You could own one of these encased memories
from as little as £45. Not a bad opportunity to
own something that will increase in value as the artist
increases in profile, as I am sure she, and others from
this show, inevitably will. |
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"Memorial Boxes" Objects in Resin by Jenni
Setchell |
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Close up of one of Jenny Setchell's "Memorial
Boxes" |
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