Tue, 27/08/2024 - 10:27
The University of Derby is pleased to announce the opening of the MA Arts (Fine Art & Photography) Degree Show, 2024.
(www.instagram.com/maarts_derbyuni)
Save the date: On Friday, 20th September, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the MA Arts Degree Show will be formally open at Artcore Gallery in the city centre of Derby.
This year's exhibition features work from six students. Armstrong Oke Agoreyo, Abbie Sunter, Amy Vallance, Lucy Swinhoe, Layla Swinhoe and current PhD student Jeannene F. Howe.
Abbie Sunter may be familiar to some as one of our previous Banks Mill tenants and current Affiliate Members. Amy Vallance has also taken part in a previous Banks Mill Open Studios event as one of our first Student Residency winners in 2021.
The exhibition is open to the public from Thursday 12th September until Monday 30th September between 11am-5pm, Monday – Friday.
Discover more about each artist's work and the inspiration that lies behind the projects that have culminated in these final bodies of work.
Armstrong Oke Agoreyo - Illustration on board
“Essence of Sustenance" explores the profound connection between humanity and nature, emphasizing their mutual dependence. The imagery represents the essential life force that nature provides, suggesting that human vitality is inextricably linked to the health and balance of the natural world. The artwork invites viewers to reflect on the organic relationship between man and nature, highlighting the fragile equilibrium that sustains life.
The intertwining of the human hand with the tree roots signifies the life-giving connection that binds all living beings to the earth as it challenges the viewer to consider the consequences of disrupting this balance, urging a deeper understanding of the environmental stewardship necessary for our collective survival. Through its evocative imagery, "Essence of Sustenance" calls for a renewed appreciation of nature's role in sustaining life and emphasizes the need for a harmonious coexistence with the earth.
https://www.instagram.com/collage_artist_armstrong/
Abbie Sunter - Mixed Media Sculpture Installation
My work explores the idea of place and how the history of place, when rooted in landscape, can exist as a vehicle for storytelling and mythmaking.
This installation exists as a meeting place between reality and fantasy and a love letter to my country. What 'The Garden of England' attempts to do, is manifest the feelings of familiarity both ancient and imagined, through some of England's most iconic visuals; ancient stone monuments, wildlife and traditional festival costumes, things that are all rooted in this country's folklore. This liminal space between myth and reality is then brought to life through a mixture of traditional materials and making practices.
https://www.instagram.com/sunter_studio/
Amy Vallance - Mixed Media Installation
“Fake Plastic Farm” aims to provoke the viewer into understanding the negative impact of single use plastics on our planet and how plastic Is infiltrating our food chain: The body of work comprises of an apocalyptic farm scene. Incorporating soft felt animals against collected single use plastics, which are then scattered across the ground to recreate the waste we see in our countryside and on our roads. The aim of the installation is to create more awareness around plastic waste and how it is disposed of, allowing for emotion to be expressed through familiarity. Using all the senses of touch, sound, imagery and scent the environment within the space aims to connect the viewer on a personal level by using the senses to provoke an emotional response.
https://www.instagram.com/amyvallanceartist/
Lucy and Layla Swinhoe - Video Art
For our Masters Degree Show we are exhibiting 2 pieces - ‘Self-Portrait(?)’, which deals with notions of reader-response criticism; and our new film ‘The Legend of the Two Ways (Master Piece)’, which explores themes of the Hermetic philosophy of ‘The Masters Key’ intertwined with the ‘Hopi Prophecy’, a prophecy that comes from the Native American Hopi Tribe.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCewWzNk-NQf3FQbCN0vcDhA?disable_polymer=true
Jeannean F. Howe – Photography
My lens-based art invites engagement in a contemplative experience, where each piece serves as a mirror reflecting the complexities of identity and the subtleties of self-perception. This practice-led research not only prompts refelction on the external pressures of societal norms but also on the internal struggles to reconcile them. Through evocative imagery. I offer a thought-provoking perspective on the ever-evolving narrative of gender and identity in contemporary culture. My art challenges viewers to question not only the societal norms that define us but also the inner landscapes navigated in the search for authenticity.
