Earlier this month 4 of our CAP1 Artists presented recent work in the hubCAP gallery. The physical gallery had been closed for over two years and the new programme of events does not start until after the summer so the opportunity arose or the current committee to cut their collective teeth in the space by inviting colleagues to show some work from this year.
4 artists took part and exhibited the work below:
Blog post by CAP1 artist Jagoda Zwiernik on the recent Graduate Exhibition at the Fruitmarket Gallery Edinburgh
20.05.22–22.05.22.
Edinburgh College School of Artand Design presents their annualend of year exhibition, showcasingwork from Graduating HigherEducation Diploma students
Edinburgh College:Graduate Diploma Show
it was a pleasure to be able to go in person for the show.
I was impressed totally by the work, hard work of all the students.
Attending to the shows allows me to be surrounded by the artistic world and to have opportunity to talk to my colleagues , lectures and to talk through some future opportunities like UNI.
It was really uplifting overall.
Rachel Hughes
“This project was based on me discovering myself through my cultural identity.
Throughout this project I explore bringing together Scottish and Malaysian culture to create something new that helped to represent me. I looked at art techniques, national flowers, fabrics, dances , and music from both countries” – R.Hughes
its beautifully handmade body of…
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After 2 years of online learning and teaching it was an absolute pleasure and a privilage to return to an in person Graduate Showcase. Despite our live online presentations in 2020 & 2021 being a fantastic exeprience for us and a huge success it was with great relief on the part of myself, Jennie and Colette that this years presentation was at the prestigous Fruitmarket Gallery.
You can see the work presented in the galleries new warehouse space below:
Vera Bartolozzi:
My practice explores archetypes and gender with the use of found objects, sculptures, performance, and installation. After considering the universal symbols of the circle, source of life, and the pilar, activating power, in prehistoric art around the world, and then considering some of the main archetypes of Ancient Greece, I have inverted the features of some goddesses and gods from the Greek pantheon, and created screen-prints of the two renewed archetypes. On the floor, one vulvic and one phallic circle of sculptures offer the stage for an imagined ritual of integration.
Vera has direct entry offers for both Glasgow School of Art (GSA) and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD) at Dundee University
Barbara Di Tucci:
Shifting and floating. Clouds are the greatest protagonists of this arduous world. Teaching us how to endure and persevere, without changing our true nature. I am a huge lover of those ethereal and yet powerful elements. I define myself a “clouds hunter”, often looking for the most captivating moment to capture their immense beauty. Life is already hard as it is, and our constant worrying accentuates and influences defining portions of it. Just like clouds do, our thoughts are constantly flowing, and “following” us throughout our daily existence. A perpetual cycle that powers itself through the ongoing emotions seasoning our life. In often cases, it hides distressful circumstances, which are merely visible when getting closer to knowing others.
Barbara is returning to her home town in Italy after several successful years in Edinburgh.
Kirsten Grant:
‘Living Quietly’ is a project about the day-to-day life, the mundane tasks that can build up when suffering from mental illness. For the past couple of months I have been documenting my life through a visual diary and how the pandemic has affected me post lockdown.
Kirsten is returning to their home town of Brighton to develop their art and music practices.
Rachel Hughes:
This project was based on me discovering myself through my cultural identity. Throughout this project I explored bringing together Scottish and Malaysian culture to create something new that helped represent me. I looked at art techniques, national flowers, fabrics, dances, and music from both countries. The piece I have on display is a multi-purpose piece of fabric, currently being used as a tablecloth but could also be used as a kilt or shawl. Accompanying this is a short photo montage video with music from both countries playing.
Rachel has direct entry offers for bothe Glasgow School of Art (GSA) and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD) at Dundee University
Tammy McMaster Stewart:
‘I know this place but it doesn’t know me’
Tammy has been offered has direct entry for Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh University, Glasgow School of Art and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design at Dundee University
Sean Obrzud:
The inspiration behind these artworks grew from the idea of creative rekindling. Relearning, trusting, and nurturing creative intuition. Each composition feels like an ode to growth, snapshots into a developing meditative practice of creative self-confidence.
Sean has direct entry offer for the Painting School at Glasgow School of Art. (GSA)
Caitlin Porteous:
This portrait serves as a reflection of my relationship with femininity and an invitation for the audience to think about what ‘feminine’ means.
The various expectations of women – young, attractive, hairless bodies – and the need to conform to the unachievable is instilled into girls from an early age. I am using this work as a means to reflect on how I view and present myself in everyday life.
Caitlin is currently looking for a studio to develop her painting practice in Edinburgh.
Finlay Warner:
In this project I wanted to show the loss I felt at the demolition of a city’s historical buildings and to combine that with the inspiration and colour of the architecture of Spain. I achieved the feeling of the loss of structure by creating an abstract piece which has allowed me to represent the feeling and drama in the loss of the historical buildings and cityscape. (This is a work in progress)
Finlay has acheived his dream of gaining entry to Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD) at Dundee University.
Ben Wilson:
My ritualistic gown was inspired by traditional pagan costumes and 70s folk horror films, and the small offerings are based on ancient methods of treating epilepsy or the ‘falling sickness’, for example the Romans used peony roots and hare’s stomachs and continuing on from that I included natural substances that I believe helped like turmeric and ginger. The performative ritual shown in my film would be to ward off unwanted epilepsy spirits or demons.
Ben is our prize winning artist for outstanding studentship over the last 2 years. As a result of his hard work and dedication he has received offers from Edinburgh College of Art (ECA), GSA, DJCAD and Goldsmiths University, London
Murdo Wilson-Watt:
For this piece of work I wanted to capture the streets of Edinburgh as I have found myself walking them in their almost never ending, winding paths of asphalt and cobbles. With this collage piece I have strayed away from my initial intended idea how ever I feel the collaged work highlights the multi levelled nature of Edinburgh’s layout and housing as a whole.
Murdo is taking a year out to further develop his portfolio.
:
“Damn her, the old witch; she has lived too long. Let her burn” – Patrick Sellar, Factor of the Earl of Sutherland, 1814.
Coming from a family who have experienced the generational trauma of forced displacement, the personal accounts of the Highland Clearances are painfully relatable.
In particular, accounts from the burnings of Strathnaver have driven the need to create this series of works.
It is important to me that history be actively remembered and engaged with; and this pattern of displacement is arguably still perpetuated today, with the majority of land in Scotland owned by nationals of other countries, not resident on the land owned.
This is a matter of course not limited to Scotland, as we can see specific groups of people the world over being forced from their ancestral lands again and again.
Yesterday was our first screen print workshop in some time. It has been a while but the new bigger space means we can get our screens and squeegees out again. Thanks to print supremo Kirstie Burn for all her expert help. We will post up some of the results soon!
Looking forward to block printing with Jennie on Wednesday!
By Alan Holligan, Chris Coatham, Joel Davidson, Victoria Rankin HND Contemporary Art Practice, Edinburgh College.
CAPetc.. Lecturer Alan Holligan with Matt Johnson and Johanna St Michaels at the opening of Radio Cineola, Summerhall Gallery, Edinburgh June 2017
Earlier in the year I was approached by the Edinburgh International Film Festival to manage the install of a major new installation work by the creative team behind the ‘Inertia Variations’ a documentary by Swedish filmmaker Johanna St Michaels about the life and work of THE THE’s Matt Johnson.
As well as giving me the opportunity to brush up on some skills working on a live project three of our HND Contemporary Art Practice students were also able to get involved and gain valuable practical experience working with internationally renowned artists & designers from across the creative industries.
The large scale interactive multi-media work which features multi-screen video projections, sound works and 8m tall Radio Cineola: Radio Tower was developed in collaboration between Johnson, St Michaels, award-winning architect Jacob Sahlqvist, lighting designer Kate Wilkins, and poet John Tottenham is being presented alongside St Michaels documentary as it travels the world.
Before coming to teach at the Granton campus I worked in a dual role as fine art lecturer, and Installation / site manager for the Exhibitions & Events dept of Edinburgh College of Art. The work was always varied and challenging but most importantly it was linked to, and supported my practice as an artist. I met some incredible artists and developed a variety of skills. So, when I was approached by my then manager and now Assistant Director of the EIFF, Diane Henderson, ‘to put the band back together’ I jumped at the chance to get involved and share the experience with students.
As well as gaining work experience the students also received passes to the EIFF and invitations to the opening premier and party. A fine return on a job well done!
“EIFF was delighted to work with students from Edinburgh College on the
Inertia Variations exhibition at Summerhall. The students brought a
wonderful enthusiasm to their role and were an enormous, knowledgeable and
skilled resource. Alan and his students worked extremely hard over a very
short period of time to install this fantastic exhibition, which in the
end, was a brilliant highlight of EIFF in its anniversary year. We
couldn¹t have done it without them!”
Dianne Henderson Assistant Artistic Director Edinburgh International Film Festival
To capture the experience for their Professional Practice Portfolio the students, Victoria, Joel and Chris developed a series of questions and responses to help log the experience.
Alan, Victoria, Chris and Joel at the opening party of EIFF at the National Museum of Scotland.
Summerhall project interview questions:
Briefly describe the exhibition/project you were involved in:
Victoria Rankin: Help setting up an exhibition/installation called Inertia with our lecturer Alan Holligan, the artists and installation crew.
Chris Coatham: The project, named Radio Cineola: The Inertia Variations, was a collaboration between musician Matt Johnson, filmmaker Johanna St Michaels, architect Jacob Sahlqvist, lighting designer Kate Wilkins and poet John Tottenham. The collaboration resulted in a film and interactive installation based on the ideas and imagery featured in the film. The Summerhall gallery/art space in Edinburgh hosted both the exhibition and film as part of the 71st annual Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Joel Davidson: Radio cineola is a unique installation bringing together the work of musician Matt Johnson, filmmaker Johanna St. Michaels and architect Jacob sahlqvist. Michaels film the inertia variations blends into a conceptual multi media installation that spread throughout the dissection room of summer-hall.
What was the role of Edinburgh college students in the project?
V.R: Our role was to help set up the installation manually. We helped by carrying a lot of the necessary equipment to the dissection room & the other connecting rooms. We sealed the windows in every room to prevent light getting in and also helped construct the radio tower. We also set up lighting in one of the connecting rooms.
C.C: College students were on hand to assist with the installation; our duties included moving equipment and materials into the upstairs space, preparing the space itself including hanging blackout curtains, and assisting with the erection of a tall central “radio mast” which was the centerpiece of the exhibition. We also hung three large projector screens and assembled beds and other props, and hung signage to guide visitors to the exhibition.
J.D: Our role mainly consisted of supporting the needs of the artists by setting up parts of the exhibition as well as helping to erect a 8 metre tall radio tower. The work was rewarding but challenging as we approached certain hurdles when setting this exhibition up in a new setting.
What new skills/experience did you gain?
V.R: I gained work experience in terms of setting up for an exhibition – experience which will be vital in my career as an artist. It was also a pleasure to meet everyone involved. It was definitely a good way to make connections with fellows in the same industry.
C.C: This was our first time helping to install an exhibition that a) was not of our own work and b) was outwith the college. Therefore it was very much a new experience for all of us and it was great to meet the Summerhall and Film Festival staff and work with them.
J.D: This opportunity to work in an exhibition like this was a first for me but hopefully not the last. It gave us an opportunity to learn new skills working in a team along side musicians, filmmakers and designers to help realise an ambitious installation.
What challenges/problems did you face and how did you resolve them?
V.R: There were various challenges when setting up but only minor issues – miscalculations in measurements when we were sealing up all the windows with light-tight fabric. We also had to move a few tonnes of volcanic sand up one floor but we didn’t have the right equipment for the job so it took longer than we expected. These were only minor issues in an otherwise smoothly running operation, I think.
C.C: At times it was hard work to get a task finished on time; for example where a lot of manual handling was involved or where it was difficult to continue without direction from a supervisor, however with initiative and teamwork we overcame these small obstacles to get the job done.
Was the experience what you expected it to be? Why/why not?
V.R: It was tougher physically than I thought it would be but overall I was very pleased with the time I spent there. As mentioned, it was really nice to meet the people involved – the artists and the installation crew. It was such an insight into what goes on behind the scenes of setting up installations. A lot of work goes in – more than I realised. I have definitely benefited from the experience.
C.C: I think I went in to the project expecting it to be quite stressful, and though it was hard work at times, it was not stressful at all and in fact was very rewarding and fun to be involved in.
J.D: The experience overall was what I expected and more. I did not expect to be working as close to the artists as we did. Helping them tailor the exhibition to a new space and overcome the challenges that this presented will be valuable in the future and was a welcomed break from any heavy lifting.
How did it feel to see the finished exhibition knowing that you had been involved?
V.R: It was an extremely proud moment as the exhibition was extremely interesting in itself.
C.C: At first I found it difficult to visualise how the exhibition would look once it was finished, but as the week progressed and we got closer to being finished it really came together and it was great to see the fruit of our labours (and that of many other people) resulting in such an impressive installation.
J.D: Seeing the final exhibition was a satisfying experience as I believe the work we all put in was vital to the show being ready on time for its opening.
Do you feel that the experience has been a valuable one in terms of gaining work experience? Would you do it again?
V.R: I definitely feel that it has been very valuable and I am so happy to have been involved. I most definitely would do it again, because there is so much to experience and learn from helping to set up an exhibition. It the kind of thing that would be different each time as well, which i find very intriguing and beneficial to my growth as an artist.
C.C: The experience was definitely a positive one and I would certainly do it again. The experience of working together under pressure to achieve a common goal was really rewarding and I would encourage any current or future students to get involved in any similar projects, should the opportunity arise.
J.D: This experience has given me valuable knowledge when it comes to working behind the scenes in a exhibition. The overall process of helping alongside artists, architects etc was a new experience and one that will serve me well in the future if the chance to work in similar conditions comes up again. The free lunches and party was a nice treat too.
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