Leeds Print Fair 2014

On Saturday 1st November I had my first taste of life as a professional artist. I had been lucky enough to be chosen to sell my work at Leeds Print Fair. Early that morning my taxi left me at the steps of The Corn exchange and I tentatively made my way inside, portfolio in hand- armed with nothing but my artwork and a handmade tablecloth.
Being an inexperienced stall holder and a student new to Leeds, I felt very unprepared when artists all around me were brandishing power drills, display racks, bunting- you name it, some of them were very, very prepared. I had no way of making my artwork stand up so I resorted to borrowing sticky tape that way very kindly offered to me by Sean, my neighbouring artist, and standing my portfolio up on its side. He also leant me some MDF boards to stand my work against, rather than my rather crude cardboard ones I was making from boxes I'd found by the bins -student life!
Although I didn't expect it, the print Fair ended up going very well for me, and I met some wonderful people. One of my favourite print artists, Stef Mitchell (of Field and Hedgerow) was also there selling her work and it was great to meet her- she is a very talented artist and so friendly.
I hope that more opportunities like this come my way, it was great to be amongst very established artists and still feel welcome, as well as making a decent profit which is always a bonus!

Shark Bite

Welded Steel Shark's Jaw

Just a couple of photos to show off my new sculpture made with the help of Leon Varga, artist and metalwork technician. This was the first time I have ever worked with metal and I learnt a
lot as it was a complex structure for a beginner. I had to begin to "think" 3D in order to make my design work and it helped me to make mock sculptures using papier mache and card.
The result is this monster! It has been terrifying people in the studio ever since...

Light Night

Light installation at Leeds City Museum

Slow shutter speed Experiments (whilst dancing to music)

I visited Leeds Light Night a few weeks ago which was quite magical; Leeds City Museum, The Opera House and Many Art galleries were open especially for exhibition of all things to do with light. I particularly enjoyed a night-time performance at the Opera House- one of the lofty galleries had been decorated like an english courtyard garden and every ten minutes two opera singers would emerge from the crowd and perform a sweeping duet, while a string quartet played in the background. Even whilst walking around town there were many performers in the streets- (I took the slow shutter photos whilst dancing along to some bhangra music). The highlight of the night was wandering into the Town Hall to find Lotte Reiniger Fairytale animations playing on the big screen, some of them dating back to 1920- It is amazing to see how animation all began and how brilliant it still looks even now!

FAUM Art Prize

Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery

A Review

Lily Ackroyd-Willoughby

Júlia Moscardó i Chàfer

Chloe Burdett

Ben Eggleton

Recently I stumbled across an exhibition in the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery, comprising of finalists’ work for the FAUM Art Prize, organised “in recognition of the high level of excellence of Art students at the University of Leeds”. The four artists; Lily Ackroyd-Willoughby , Chloe Burdett, Ben Eggleton and Júlia Moscardó i Chàfer were expertly selected by the panel of judges based on their undergraduate shows in June 2014. All artists specialised in different mediums, all with a distinctly different theme.

As you enter the gallery you are greeted with an array of works that span historically over the centuries, there Is almost too many to fit on the walls. It is a rich and diverse collection lit beautifully by lights that mimic daylight outside, which makes it a very pleasing, positive space to contemplate in. At the far right of the gallery was the FAUM exhibition, and you are immediately greeted by the huge wall mural by Lily Ackroyd-Willoughby “Speedy Materials”. Her work is riddled with juxtaposition- the urgent marks made on the wall are actually made of MDF and painted to mimic wood grain, and it appears elevated from the wall, as if floating- bringing 2D into 3D. The viewer faces ocular confusion- especially with the piece “Stone Carved Nikes” – possibly a nod to consumerism and marketing controlling our own freedom as individuals- weighed down by materialistic tendencies.

Moving on, a wall of six oil paintings by Júlia Moscardó i Chàfer transport you into a hazy dreamlike world, exploring themes of the mundane, sleep deprivation, and depression. The neutral colours and soft brush strokes are reflective of a world where you are absent from the present situation. My favourite “the laundry” communicates a tiredness through the position of the figure, and the painting style works well in depicting crumpled fabric.

Chloe Burdett is completely different in the way that she chooses to depict real life rather than create a deeper narrative, the view can watch a video comprised of CCTV from club nights in Leeds. Alongside this piece she has made a book of interviews

 with staff who work at these venues in order to create awareness of those behind the scenes, who share their stories and experiences, the result was shocking and enraging.

Finally, we arrive at the glistening sculptures of Ben Eggleton. “Immurement” is a sculptural installation of three slumped figures made of stainless steel squares resting upon old upholstered chairs. The figures are shrouded in a dazzling cloak of metal, slumped and possibly cocooned. Personally, I interpreted the work as a comment on the treatment of elderly in care-homes, as the figures appear old and tired, the chairs dirty and worn suggesting neglect. The Central figure has parts of it’s shell breaking away, leaving void space underneath as if decaying. This is by far my favourite piece as I found it very poignant, something I would like my own work to be. It is evident why Ben won the FAUM Art prize.