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Perhaps the best thing about student degree exhibitions is the diverse collection of ideas and ability on show. This year is no exception at Swansea Institute's offering at the Alexandra Road campus gallery (within the Stained Glass department next to Swansea Library).
Swansea Institute (and the old Swansea College of Art) has always played a major role in producing leading players in the art scene in Wales and recently added James Donovan, Alan Williams, Sarah Hopkins, Heather Simmonds, Torbin Shacht and our own editor Nigel Williams, amongst a list too long to include in full here. This is in no small part to the huge contribution of the highly motivated tutors within the various departments. The Fine Art / Painting and Drawing courses have been nurtured by John and Adrienne Howes (until recently) and Robert Newell. All the tutors are extremely active and talented artists in their own right and the courses have supplemental input by notable contemporary artists such as Iwan Bala and Tim Davies. This has created an exciting atmosphere within the college and the final degree exhibition is the showcase for emerging talent, as well as providing the final set of marks for degree assessment.
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"Looking at the Sea III" A Video Wall Projection with Sound
by Anna Papadopoulou.
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Swansea Institute suffers from not having a gallery that the Fine Art department can use for regular exhibition, so it's even more amazing that they continue to produce exciting degree shows.
Exhibiting is central to the development of a visual artist and it seems crazy not to have a dedicated space for this purpose.
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Last year the students had to convert an empty factory in Pontardawe into a gallery space and, although this was a tremendous experience for the students involved, the students and staff have to search out suitable spaces each year (to coincide with the visit of the external examiners). This year the department managed to acquire the gallery within the Stained Glass department's building in Alexandra Road and made full use of the rooms and corridors of the top floor.
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"Terraced Houses - Afan Valley" Charcoal £150
Mature student Jean Wanklin proudly displaying one of
her impressive drawings.
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Onec again, this year, there is a lovely mix of 'traditional' work with contemporary installations. Perhaps 'Mix' is the appropriate term since "Russell's Mix" is the first piece that greets you as you enter the gallery corridor. Russ Maggs is a local artist, with a great sense of humour and fascinating imagination.
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"Russell's Mix" is the realisation of just one of Russ' 'rooms within his head,' as he explains,
"My work revolves around a large corridor in my mind, which has no definite beginning or end. The corridor has one underlying theme, this is based around the idea and the concept of industrial production. Running from this corridor are numerous rooms, all of which have separate subheadings. I am able to enter these rooms as and when I feel the need to... I hope the corridor will continue in my life."
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"Russell's Mix: We're Happy to HELP" by Russ Maggs (Installation)
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On a personal basis I also like to see traditional painting and drawing skills on display. This year there are some lovely works by Jean Wanklin, Martina Aydin, Val Thomas, Emily Morgan, Rachel Davies, Jonathon Thomas and the naive style of Charlie Aitchison.
The interesting collection of installations provide the contemporary balance. There are many issues explored by artists Salamatu Edwards, Oliver Harvey, Anna Papadopoulou, Adam Richards and Nicolle Evans-Nicholl.
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A selection of paintings by Val Thomas
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Irene Thomas, a mature student from Swansea has managed to combine several techniques and styles to convey her Christian narrative, "I Am the Door" and "I Am the Resurrection" being particularly powerful pieces constructed from six inch nails and burned wood.
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"I Am the Resurrection" by Irene Thomas
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Typical of degree shows, there is something to interest everyone at the Swansea Institute Fine Art exhibition, but perhaps one that stands out for me is Jenni Setchell's "Memorial Boxes", a simple idea, the subject matter having been recreated by many artists in recent years, but this is a poignant and touching piece, cleverly assembled and
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beautifully produced. You could own one of these encased memories from as little as £45. Not a bad opportunity to own something that will increase in value as the artist increases in profile, as I am sure she, and others from this show, inevitably will.
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"Memorial Boxes" Objects in Resin by Jenni Setchell
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Close up of one of Jenny Setchell's "Memorial Boxes"
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