Monday, 3 November 2014

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.

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