DJCAD Degree Show 2014

To try and compare the 2014 Degree show at DJCAD to last years exhibition would be almost impossible. While the 2013 show was incredible, with so much talent and amazing pieces, this years show is equally just as astounding with work from a range of talented artists showing innovative thinking and a serious abundance of skill. In order to fully appreciate their work would take dedication and a good few hours. However it is a truly worthwhile experience that I feel everybody should do. It is an experience like no other and will open you up to so many different concepts and idea that you can't help but feel inspired just by being there.

With talent such as Kate Cunningham, who's paintings give a feeling of such lightness and freedom, with amazing realism that it's hard to believe they are not photographs;

 Kate Cunningham Paintings Fine Art

Samantha Wilson, who's use of charcoal and oil paints works perfectly to convey the idea that while people may all be on different paths and while people may all be experiencing different things, we are all experiencing something whether it good or bad; Thomas Cameron, an artist who's paintings I could gaze at all day for his use of colour and his expert blending of shades and use of light; Amanda Lambert who uses processes with marking and favours experimentation to give truly abstract and fascinating artwork.

Amanda Lambert Art 

With talent such as these it's impossible to not enjoy the exhibition and be amazed. After having spent a good few hours myself today exploring the exhibit and talking to the artists, I've been able to gleam an understanding of their work and their experiences while creating them.

  Ellis O'Connor shared with me her experience of having to carry around large rolls of paper in order to complete her exhibition, choosing to work outside to gain the proper feel for her landscape works and use the natural environment to create the effect she wanted in her art, even using pieces of her environment such as branches to get the right markings and utilising rain for her washes in her charcoal pieces.

 Abigail Blair used sound in her exhibition, playing recordings of conversations she had overheard and written down in her exhibit, making it a thoroughly fascinating exhibit to visit as well as allowing for some playful banter on whether or not she was recording me in our conversation. She showed me the length of time these projects can take, having recorded all her conversations over the last year. This then lead to a conversation about the comparison of her exhibit to the lovely Zoe Farrell's, who's own use of sounds and music are evident in her exhibit but in incredibly different ways.

 

Zoe Farrell Exhibition - ACPC 

She drew the sound waves of things she heard, listening to music and sounds around her, turning herself into a 'human seismograph' to convey her concept.

It wasn't only the ACPC and Fine Art classes that excelled, all courses showed incredible work some taking a more serious approach and some having fun with their concepts such as Grant D Herron in Jewellery Work and Metal Design, who created an entire 'corporation' for his jewellery display, incorporating wood, metals and plastics to create his products.

 
Grant D Herron Display

Kirsty Snowden used both intricate metal work and digital technology to develop lockets that were able to store images of family and friends, appealing to all ages and genders. Each locket was individually created and designed, with amazing detail and care taken with each one. Emma Thorogood gave both completely different yet still detailed abstract work utilising the idea of honeycombs and nature's natural defensive behaviours in her jewellery, opting to use bright attractive colours to keep in with her own bright and bubbly personality while Rebecca Smith gave an equally personal aspect to her jewellery by basing her concept off love letter sent from her own grandfather to her grandmother. It gave her overall presentation a much more nostalgic feel, making the viewer reminisce and wonder about their own family's history as well as created an almost loving atmosphere for her display.



Rebecca Smith Display and Jewellery 










Emma Thorogood Earring 

It is in no doubt to me that I could go on for hours about this exhibition. It was one of the best experiences of art I have had so far and I thoroughly enjoyed myself in meeting the artists, seeing the different displays and whether you are educated in art or you just enjoy to look at it, this is the perfect place to be. As for myself, my favourite exhibits have to be the beautifully peaceful exhibit by Jay Frazer, who allowed me to take some stunning pictures of her and her exhibit:

 

(Each bead was handcrafted.... there's 20000 beads! Serious commitment to her project).

As well as Emma Doig's stunning paintings which brilliantly convey the idea of transition in an equally beautiful medium. They are amazing to look at and had me wishing I could just spend my entire overdraft on one.

Please everyone go and see this show. Every piece of work is done to the most incredible standard and trust me, you do not want to miss out on these bright, up and coming artists. Every single person in this show deserves to go on and be great and I have no doubt that we will see amazing, if possibly controversial work from some, feats of art from every single person in this years degree show.

Congratulations to every single one of you and best of luck in the future.