Camberwell MA Fine Art Degree Show 2011

 The Camberwell MA provided a stimulating show this year. Some of the greatest pieces showed innovative processes and novel use of materials. 

Ellie Collins created a beautifully eerie environment for the viewer. In a darkened room she assembled many acrylic strange objects, almost like creatures. There are casts of stickle bricks and a recording of a child crying. You find yourself feeling vulnerable and small, but concurrently fascinated with the objects or ‘toys’ surrounding the room. Some elements of the situation feel familiar while others remain foreign. I feel an underlying awareness that these objects could feel familiar to another being, like this is a nursery from another world.

Nicola Plant constructed a walkway leading the viewer into the mainly sculptural upper room. Along her walkway sat brightly coloured pieces with references to modernist architecture. Nicola’s sculptures show quite linear structure demonstrating three-dimensional transformation to the process of drawing. Nicola’s work particularly engaged the viewer because of the way the walkway interacted with all the other pieces in the room; it provided a fresh view from which to consider the whole space.

for more information on these artists:

http://www.elliecollins.com/

http://nicolaplant.blogspot.com/

LCC BA Photography Show 2011

The 2011 LCC BA Photography Show had some intriguing work. Harry Jones’ investigation into the ‘poetic absurdity of romanticism’ required him to spend long times in isolation in the Scottish Highlands. The work he presents are quiet and beautiful video and images. They are mountainous, but not overly specific to the Highlands. A troubling story is hinted at through the combination of these images and a sheet of obscure facts that accompanies. ‘Christmas day was spent up a mountain 872 times taller than me’ lends thoughts to acts of paradoxical madness; repetitive and schizophrenic behaviour in isolation to evade loosing sanity. 

Constantin Cerdan’s work instantly caught my attention with associations to this year’s Deutche Börse shortlist Thomas Demand. Cerdan’s minimal recreation of a supermarket creates a self-reflexive text.  By revealing the gaps of the set in-between the ceiling and the walls, attention is drawn to the construction of reality. Its edifice cross-textually references to ‘a glitch in the Matrix’ and the barren banal image inspires though of 28 Days Later Armageddon and abandonment.

Cerdan’s images allures to play and humour. He conveys self-awareness by providing a fragment of a shop. Simple indicators are enough to give the audience all the information that they need to know. The Humour and the structural composition of the scene allow an underlying darker presence of panoptical control. 

links to each of the artist's work: 

http://www.harry-jones.co.uk

http://www.constantincerdan.com/