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Graduating students impress at UEL Visual Arts Showcase - Canary Wharf sponsorship announced

Monday 4 June 2007

Hundreds of University of East London (UEL) students, their friends and families as well as key partners from the arts, industry and government, attended an exciting private view of this year’s Visual Arts Degree Show at UEL’s Docklands Campus on Thursday 31 May.

George Iacobescu CBE, CEO of Canary Wharf Group plc, joined leading art critic and curator Sacha Craddock to open the exhibition, which showcases the work of over 150 final year students from UEL’s School of Architecture and the Visual Arts.

The Visual Arts Degree Show - first in a series of UEL summer showcase events - includes work by graduating students in BA honours degree programmes including Fine Art, Graphic Design, Fashion, Textiles, Photography, Graphic Fine Art, and Digital Arts.

In his opening speech, Mr Iacobescu announced Canary Wharf Group's sponsorship of a new fund enabling selected graduating students from UEL’s School of Architecture and the Visual Arts to undertake inspirational research and study at sites of major artistic or architectural significance worldwide.

Mr Iacobescu said: “I’m extremely impressed by the work I have seen while touring this exhibition. It is clear that the University of East London well deserves its growing national and international reputation for excellence and creativity.

"I strongly believe that a society that does not take time to stop and reflect on its art, architecture and design is a society ill at ease with itself. I encourage all of you graduating students to treasure your talents and continue with your wonderful work."

UEL’s School of Architecture and the Visual Arts, opened in 2004 by Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry, offers dedicated, purpose-built studios, workshops and exhibition space.

Sacha Craddock, former art critic at the Guardian and currently curator of the Bloomberg Space, said: “What an amazing place! I’m madly impressed by the School of Architecture and Visual Arts here at UEL; the teaching, the facilities and the wide variety of student work. I’ve seen many an art school, and I have to say that this place has the feel of somewhere very vital and important.”

In recent years, the School has successfully launched new programmes in architecture, digital arts and visual communications, fashion and textiles, fine art, and visual theories and research, attracting students from around the world.

The School and its students have also won numerous prestigious awards, and high-profile alumni include acclaimed film-makers Ken Russell and Peter Greenaway, ‘godfather of punk’ Ian Dury and leading contemporary artist Jake Chapman. UEL is highly rated for research, and Visiting Professors include Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry, Dr Jane Harris, Director of the Textile Futures Research Unit at the University of the Arts, London, and world-acclaimed sculptor Richard Wilson, FRA.

Cliff Nicholls, head of the School of Architecture and Visual Art at UEL, said: “This year’s showcase illustrates our strength in depth across five distinct subject areas. We are blessed with an embarrassment of riches in disciplines of historic strength, and we hope visitors enjoy the complexity and variety of the work on show.”

Forthcoming showcase events at UEL this summer include the Architecture Year End Show, Fine Art Professional Doctorate shows, and MA Fine Art and MA Digital Arts & Visual Communication shows. For details, visit www.uel.ac.uk/ava.

Students exhibiting at the Visual Arts Degree Show include:

Hannah Wilson (22), of Chigwell, is a final year student on UEL’s BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art. Hannah said: “My work this year began with a series of photographs of water, which I developed through layering and drawing to create new ideas. This project was finally resolved in my most recent series of paintings, which are on display in the show.

“I’ve really enjoyed the degree; there’s a great atmosphere in the School and it’s fantastic to be able to try so many new things. I’m now planning to continue my practice, setting up a studio with some of my fellow students and ultimately selling my work.”

James Kelly (21), of Manor Park, created nine chalk drawings on the floor at UEL’s Docklands Campus as part of the Visual Arts Degree Show. James, a final year student on UEL’s BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art, said: “I did the drawings for two main reasons: firstly, to get people thinking about shape and colour and, more practically, to point them in the direction of the AVA building.

“During my degree, I’ve become increasingly interested in the idea of interactive art, as well as in finding common ground between sculpture and painting. My other exhibited work highlights an ongoing theme of rotating or kinetic art, and I’m very pleased with the way it’s developed.”

Beverley Gull MBE, winner of swimming gold and silver medals for Great Britain at the Seoul and Barcelona Paralympics, is a final year student on UEL’s BA (Hons) degree in Photography.

Beverley, who worked at UEL as a disability advisor for over twenty years, said: “My work is all about Paralympians preparing for London 2012. I tried to capture the determination of the athletes and their will to win gold for their country. Sports photography was something I wanted to go in to, but I didn’t realise quite how much I’d enjoy being back in the sporting arena.

“I’ve now been invited to work as an official photographer at the Beijing and London Olympics; in the interim, I’m covering British athletic events. Tonight’s exhibition has been very successful and I’m looking forward to my future as a professional photo-journalist.”

Elizabeth Smith (40) of Poplar, won the Subject Director’s Prize for Fine Art. Elizabeth, a final year student on UEL’s BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art, said: “This award is totally unexpected but very, very lovely. The degree’s been absolutely brilliant. It’s been so exciting to hold and curate our own exhibitions, and there’s been a great camaraderie among all of the students. The tutors and technical staff have been fantastic, too, really encouraging us to fully develop our work.”

“My work for the showcase is a series of mono-prints that use the iconic image of a door as the starting point for an investigation of spatial relationships.”

Oya Mustafa (21), of Dagenham, is a final year student on UEL’s Combined Honours degree in Graphic Design and Graphic Art. Oya said: "I’ve got two sets of work in the exhibition, representing the two sides of my degree. In my Graphic Art work, I’ve been exploring my Turkish culture to create collages on top of screen-prints.

“The Graphic Design work is designed to light-heartedly raise awareness of the less obvious things we shouldn’t do while driving, such as “don’t read and drive” and “don’t doll up and drive. I’ve enjoyed the degree; it’s been stressful at times, but I’ve loved university life and am now planning to find a job in graphic design.”

Lindsay Segall (23) of Shadwell, won the Head of School Prize for Fine Art. Lindsay, a final year student on UEL’s BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art said: “I’m extremely surprised to have won this award. The degree’s been an invaluable experience and I’m really quite sad to be leaving.

“For this final exhibition, I’ve created a sculpture called Stern, which involves oval plaster walls slotting into a metal frame. It resembles the stern of a boat and the materials reflect the characteristics associated with severity.”

Mike Whelan (30), of Whitechapel, is a final year student on UEL’s BA (Hons) degree in Photography. Mike said: “My work is based on the idea that people use photographs as a way of remembering. My blurry, minimalist images play with that concept, allowing viewers plenty of freedom to develop their own emotions and reactions in relation to the work.

“I’m now planning to embark on a very different project – setting off to Chile to do some documentary photography with an indigenous tribe.”

Danielle Williams (20), of Harlow, is a final year student on UEL’s BA (Hons) degree in Textile Design. Danielle said: “The degree’s been really good, and this year’s definitely been the best - I really feel like everything’s coming together. My work in this exhibition focuses on my fashion prints for a spring/summer menswear collection, but I’ve been able to build a wide range of crucial experience at UEL.

“As well as doing work experience in UEL’s Fabric Print and Design Bureau, I worked with the University’s Knowledge Dock enterprise development and support service to redesign the interior of a venue in Canary Wharf. The venue’s re-launching itself this week, so it’s all very exciting.”

Ned Maxwell (63), of Battersea, is a final year student on UEL’s BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art. Ned said: “Earlier this year, I made a life-size lion out of rolled up pieces of newspaper; for the final exhibition, I decided to do a similar thing with sugar paper. I thought it would make good feathers so decided to create an Indian Condor, the largest of the vultures.

“I’ve enjoyed the degree, although I never really expected to end up at university. I previously worked as a butcher, an undertaker, a security guard and a furniture removal man, but when I lost my job a few years ago, I decided to apply for an Access course in Fine Art.”

Shafiq Dad (22), of Shadwell, is a final year student on UEL’s BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art. Shafiq said: “My piece for the exhibition is called Points of entry, points of exit. It’s made up of thirty doors that have been hinged together so that they lose their function - they can no longer be opened. The only point of entry is a tunnel that leads into a mini-labyrinth, full of surprises.

“The degree’s been really good; UEL’s a great environment with a fantastic group of staff and students. After graduating, I’m planning to take a year out from university, holding independent shows, before applying for an MA in Fine Art next year.”

Lucy Tate (25), of Highbury, is a final year student on UEL’s BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art. Lucy said: “I’m just about to hang my work; it’s very exciting and I’m really looking forward to the show. My silkscreen prints are based on people from photos that have been found on the streets. The work focuses on identity and questions the authenticity of documents and visual language.”

Ends/.

For details and pictures contact Patrick Wilson: 020 8223 2061 or 07951 797 975

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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