To celebrate Camberwell’s MA Visual Arts Summer Show 2018 we’ve met MA students Nancy Jo Ward, Neslihan Baser and Kate Browne who have all told us a little more about their degree pieces:
Nancy Jo: algorithms
Nancy is from Santa Maria, California and is studying Fine Art Digital at Camberwell. Her final project, ‘Fiercefull’, involves research in photography, collage, and experiments with printing on a variety of substrates that are reworked with traditional media.
‘My practice involves drawing and painting with images on images and is driven by analogy experiences with painting and drawing that have influenced my sensibilities and way of seeing, whereas my research involves experiments with digital photography, random textures, glitch art, data visualization and Lumetri Scope waveforms. The process uses algorithms to blend photographic images, painting with digital brushes, and working back into the printed surface of different substrates – papers, film, fabric and aluminum panels with analog media. I have discovered that digital photography is integral to my practice and that my approach to research is a delicate balance between periods of actively seeing and intense solitude. The world has become saturated with images, and my practice is profoundly reliant on photographic technology.
One of Nancy Jo Ward pieces for the MA Summer Show 2018
I found that the subjects within my work are almost always female which provides opportunities to resolve what is beauty and how to express emotion. I had been working on cropped portrait compositions and wanted to develop the work below as a full figure. What the viewer doesn’t typically see or know, is that there are always images of personal, social or political subjects that are incorporated which allows a personal narrative to drive the work. This piece was created from a combination of many separate images of figures, faces, fashion, glitch art and data visualization that were mixed in and painted on digitally. When I blended in the data visualization image the background took on this incredible texture, and after I integrated an African etching drummer whose figure was offset, she began to look pregnant – full of life. I opt to print this piece on archival fine art paper with chalk pastels, and gold-leaf added. A fabric version is printed on 100% silk georgette panels.’
Neslihan Baser: positive memories
Neslihan is studying MA Fine Art Digital Online and lives in her native country Istanbul, Turkey where she works for C.A.M. gallery. She has a background in fashion design but decided to join the distance learning MA at Camberwell looking to gain knowledge on digital practices and to develop knowledge on theories, practices and research methodologies.
‘In my work I conduct research on memory and recollection and the impact of these concepts on psychology looking at how past experiences affect our thoughts, emotions and behaviors. I’m really inspired by timeless and conveying characteristics of fabric and thread and I feel these materials have helped women to express themselves and reflect their inner worlds; they also revealed hidden stories or lives.
For the summer show I decided to explore how recalling a positive memory can be beneficial in a psychological healing process. My work is inspired by “the kilim room” (located in a mountain house designed by my grandmother who is an architect) – a room which I consider to be an artist’s studio, a room in which I spent the most productive time of my childhood. I was introduced to fabric and stitching for the first time by my grandmother and was told numerous stories about kilims and motifs on them which have enriched my internal world. Both the room and the house have a huge positive impact not only on my creativity, but also on my psychology. So I focused on creating a meditative space by making an installation and collage works inspired by kilim motifs and my memories.
My focus is on making a multi-layered work and by creating different textures I try to increase the tactile and emotional sense in my work. To achieve this I chose tulle fabric, embroideries that I made by using computerized embroidery machine, handmade paper, threads, ink and acrylic paint in my installation and collage works.
Work by Neslihan Baser for the MA Summer Show 2018
Work by Neslihan Baser for the MA Summer Show 2018
Kate Browne: Greenwich landscape
Kate a student on MA Illustration has focused her current practice around the impact of her local area, North Greenwich. Kate travels through the area regularly and was struck by how much the area was changing, rapidly. She was particularly interested in construction sites and the skeleton of a new building, seeing how it develops, wondering what it could be and what new people will be brought to the area as a result.
‘My work for the Summer Show is a large scale triptych of North Greenwich; former, present and future. It begins in 1998 when the Millennium Dome was first built, which triggered the regeneration for the area and ending in 2020 which sees a new Design District, bringing together 1,800 creatives and a wealth of affordable work spaces and creative hubs. Alongside this work I will be presenting 3D models of these buildings.
I started with creating sketchbook drawings of North Greenwich, from observation and photographs, observing the architecture and where new builds are taking place. I began to engage with the community, asking friends and students of Ravensbourne University what they thought about the changes – conducting interviews, and reading literature in response to the Millennium Dome. This research informed my knowledge of the Future of North Greenwich and what this could give to the public
I chose pencil for my large pieces as I like to keep my work quite organic, with yellow crayon to resemble ‘lights’ in the buildings. For the 3D models these were made with a range of mixed media, mainly mount board combined with Crayon & Perspex. The 1:100 architectural figures are coated in graphite to compliment my chosen tones and give depth to the landscape.
For the majority of the course I have been working in A5 sketchbooks with very little colour, but for the final show I wanted to make a statement, so to work this big with this level of detail was quite frustrating at times. The big pieces took nearly 3 months and the architectural buildings and layout took around 5 months. However I have learnt that I am a lot more in my comfort zone working bigger, producing more confident mark making as a result.
Work by Kate Browne for the MA Summer Show 2018
Work by Kate Browne for the MA Summer Show 2018
The MA Visual Arts show is on show 12 – 18 July 2018, open to the public: Saturday and Sunday, 11am – 4.00pm. Monday – Friday, 10am – 8pm.
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