Graduate Show 2009 Gallery 1
Printer Friendly PageGallery 1 of work by students at the Graduate Show 2009
Fine Arts student Natalie Gibbs’ installation, 'Invasion of a lateral matter' was inspired by the Constructivist movement and features the sculptural forms of perspex mirrors interfaced with video projections.
Sian Coole is one of the first students to graduate from the Advertising Design degree course. “It looked like an interesting and creative course,” said 22-year-old Sian, who comes from Caerleon. “I wanted to do something creative that would have a job at the end of it. As part of the course I spent six weeks on a work placement with Saatchi and Saatchi in London which I found an invaluable experience. Once I graduate I shall be arranging a meeting with them to show them my portfolio.”
Animation student Stewart Paton made a film about evolution with characters drawn from early Victorian text books similar to the ones made Darwin. “It’s a film about a man who thinks about evolution and comes to terms with the fact that he is an insignificant link searching for a purpose but mainly finding distractions,” said 23-year-old Stewart who comes from Winchester.
‘Please See Label For Instructions’ is a series of portraits that depict school children that are affected by learning difficulties created by Documentary Photography student Emma Borrow.
“The children I photographed each have a learning difficulty that may affect their experience in primary and secondary school, and my aim was to highlight the concept of labelling children in schools,” said 21-year-old Emma.
“Through this project I tried to show that by labelling a child with a name for their learning difficulty does not solve the problem - every person is an individual with a unique personality and each of these children deserves a right to be treated as an individual and not a label. I feel strongly about this because my niece has extreme learning difficulties.”
Emma enjoyed her time at Newport. “I came here because there’s no other course like it in the country,” she said.
Fine Art student Josh Gardner fascinated spectators with his installation/performance piece, ‘The persistence of rot in the shelf life of the idea, extrapolated and made real through the medium of fresh cream accompanied by the G String Overture in G Flat’.
“I created a machine which plays two violins and to this accompaniment I paint myself with whipped cream and press up against four boards to make impressions of myself,” said 20-year-old Josh, who comes from Newport.
Sophie Redall’s installation, ‘Where It takes You’, is about a regular journey she takes through Newport and features a diverse range of found objects.
“I think it raises issues about both recycling and the mystery of who owns these objects – and how they came to lose them,” said 22-year-old Fine Art student Sophie, who comes from Weston-super-Mare and hopes to go on become a lecturer.
“I’m so glad I came to Newport on the advice of my tutor at Westcliffe College. I’ve really enjoyed my time here,” she added.
Elen Mai Wyn Jones created an intriguing web of materials combined with a weird and wonderful collection of found objects for her installation 'False Kingdom'.
“I work in a variety of media,” said 27-year-old Elen who comes from Cardiff. “I’ve been interested in exploring the concept of the inner child since attending a series of workshops on play therapy. This piece was designed to remind people of the impulsive and creative energy of children,” said Elen who spent a year at another university before finding her niche on the Fine Art course at Newport.
“I’ve been able to explore my own creativity in the way that I want here because there is scope for everything from installations to traditional methods.There’s no strict school of thought - anything is allowed. I’m so glad I came here. The tutors are great, and worth their weight in gold because of the care they give you. These have been some of the best years of my life!”
‘If Walls Could Talk’, was the subject of a project by Documentary Photography student BenTajima-Simpson who visited historic or culturally significant buildings in South Wales, including Roman walls in Caerleon and Big Pit in Blaenavon, with the aim of documenting walls from a wide range of periods in Welsh history.
“I wanted to explore the visual quality of that which stops us from seeing beyond,” explained 25-year-old Ben who comes from Moretonhampstead near Exeter.
Clare Bryant-Hall managed to fit in her studies on the Fine Art course with being a staff nurse at Chepstow Community Hospital. Her final project, ‘Transience of Boyhood’ featured oil paintings created from mobile phone clips of her two sons, aged 11 and 12, having fun whilst snowboarding.
“I’ve loved doing the course as it’s given me the opportunity to develop my painting which is something I’ve always enjoyed doing,” said 42-year-old Clare.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW GALLERY 2 OF STUDENTS' WORK FROM THE GRADUATE SHOW 2009