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"East London the place to be", say ground-breaking artists

Thursday 25 November 2010

 

Pioneering artists Gilbert and George have been conferred with Honorary Doctorates by the University of East London.

The pair said they were particularly proud to receive the awards from UEL as they considered east London to be the hotbed of British art.

"We were the first to move here over 40 years ago, and now it seems all artists are moving here.  It makes this award all the more special," said George.

The pair received their Doctorates of Arts at the annual graduation ceremony for students from UEL’s Schools of Architecture and the Visual Arts, and Health and Bio-science, staged at the Barbican Centre in central London on Tuesday (23).

Asked what advice they would impart to UEL art students, George said: "When you wake up, sit on the edge of your bed, and don’t open your eyes until you have decided what you want to say to the world today."

UEL Vice-Chancellor Patrick McGhee said: "East London has nurtured talented individuals from around the world, and has become a driving force for art around the capital. We pride ourselves on the creativity, innovation and energy generated by UEL students, and we are proud that those we honour today are recognised as a source of enduring inspiration."

Also awarded UEL Honorary Doctorates were former Paralympian and England basketball star Ade Adepitan MBE, pre-eminent sculptor Richard Wilson, multi-media artist Lady Tina Gifford and acclaimed artist Gavin Turk.

Mr Adepitan, who hails from Plaistow and attended school in East Ham and Stratford, received a standing ovation when he told students: "You all have the opportunity to succeed, so don’t waste a second of your life. But it’s equally important to know that life is not just about success, it’s about how you pick yourself up when things get difficult."

The event was the fifth of seven graduation ceremonies UEL is currently staging.

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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