‘Who Will Provide’ Exhibition at The Crypt Gallery
31/10 – 4/11 2018
Our group of thirty three MFA students explored and responded to themes relating to charity and its place in today’s world. The exhibition presented a collection of site specific works, ranging from painting to sculpture, assemblage to video through to performance and photography.
Before the summer break preparations started by putting together various teams to properly organise and execute the event. The members of the research team responded to the site by looking into its history, connecting it to its past and designed the theme ’Who Will Provide?’ around the wish list, a document from 1995 which outlined the desired purpose for the building. This included shelter and provision for the homeless, serving the nearby student population and a focal point for community activities.
I volunteered to join the Installation Team. Over the summer I visited the crypt twice with the view to inform myself about the site (wall space, wall and ceiling heights, location of electrical outlets etc.) and to explore a potential location for my own work.
Two weeks prior to the event the curating team got in touch and supplied our team with a list of required tools and materials. We also received technical information on some more complicated works and installing requirements from The Crypt Gallery itself (No drilling of new holes!). There was very good collaboration between curating and installation team and minor installation problems were efficiently dealt with.
SKILLS: HANDLING ARTWORK, COLLABORATION, PROBLEM SOLVING, ATTENTION TO DETAIL,
SITE SPECIFIC WORKING
Sustainable Angle
Studio Visit, 2-4 Exmoor Street, W10 6BD
25th April 2019
The visit was organised by Circular Design Lab, a discussion group in which
the themes of sustainability are approached through the lens of design and practice, done through discussions, talks, workshops and visits.
This one day event was part of the 8th Future Fabrics Expo ‘which had taken place in January at Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square.
I submitted a short essay why I would be interested to visit the studio and what connection it had to my practice.
At the studio, a huge array of samples of sustainable materials were presented.
Some of these materials were truly amazing: recycled polyester, fabric made
Out of 100% stinging nettle, materials made out of tree bark, rubber made out of wild Amazon rubber (sustainably harvested), Pineapple leaf fibre, hemp and beeswax textile.
Of particular interest to me was MuSkin, a material made of 100% mushroom.
It comes from a kind of parasitic fungus (Phellinus ellipsoideus) that grows in the wild and attacks the trees in the subtropical forests. The total absence of toxic substance makes MuSkin ideal for the use in close-to-skin applications and thanks to is very natural origin it limits bacteria proliferation.
