As ever, these postings represent but a fraction of what I see. I was able to talk to both makers featured here which also means more photos. Yay!
Both graduates are mature students (another coincidence), demonstrating that changing direction in life will always bring something joyfully unexpected.
Nigel Matthews graduated from Staffordshire University. He became interested in the now defunct tradition (in our consumerist West at any rate) of repairing broken ceramics including the replacement of handles and lids and has developed this idea in a contemporary way. I’m looking forward to seeing more of the metal and ceramic combinations – technically challenging for functional objects.
He also gave me a tip for finding a teapot that pours properly as I really hate those dribblers: the spout should come from the bottom of the pot. It makes a certain amount of sense but I haven’t tested it out yet.
Melanie Lascelles from Bucks New University showed completely different work, her final project reflecting on migrant child labour, particularly in the production of the “Value” or “Basic” products in our supermarkets.
It is so rare these days to see a graduate making a moral or poliltical statement in their final show that I had to talk to her about it.
Freya Anderson, one of the other students from Bucks, showed this piece which, in my view, would have been better placed at the entrance so that everyone coming in could see it.
The UK is home to some of the best art and design education in the world yet is being cut back to the point of extinction. I can feel my blood pressure rising so will talk about this in a later post.
Leave a Reply