NUA Graduate Show

It stands to reason that the strength of Norwich’s artistic community is at least partly caused by the prevalence of its incredibly successful specialised art university; NUA. With alumni including a Turner Prize nominee and a three-time Oscar winner, it is clear to understand why many artists flock from around the country, arriving in droves to our fair city. Many of these stay in town after their graduation, ultimately contributing creatively to our cultural landscape.

Over the next few weeks, the campus – located in the heart of the city – will host its most recent Degree Show, with examples of work from across all courses. Over 600 students are putting forward objects that represent the culmination of over three years’ work, from illustration, to fashion, to games design and more.

Here at Outline, we like to appear somewhat cultured, so we meandered along for a pleasant morning of pottering around and talking about art.

The dominant force across all of the host buildings is, as ever, the Fine Art show – for no other reason than the eclecticism of its content. Whether you like the work or not, the variance between the products put forth is a testament to the freedom evidently pushed by the university as, without the willingness of the staff to facilitate openness in this manner, we would not see such extreme diversity. Biro drawings, trip-inducing projections, a giant acrylic face, a washing machine, pink crochet and tiny silver mushrooms (to merely name a few) litter the evacuated studio spaces, providing an element of surprise and discovery with every corner turned. For this reason alone, it is worth having a wander.

However, do not misinterpret my positivity, as there are some relatively weak pieces – and the immense variety does leave everything feeling rather disparate. It may sound harsh but, unfortunately, many students who finish university do not continue with the medium that they initially had passion for and, to a degree, one can see signs of this here. Luckily, it is counteracted by some incredibly strong pieces of work, evenly dispersed throughout the entire show. Ellie Brine’s dramatic black and pink paintings, surreal in every sense and comprising of emotive splatters of contrasting hues, stick in my memory as their aesthetic punches you violently in the teeth. Hannah Carpenter’s piece is hard to ignore; a cascade of colourful foliage, which began a few weeks ago as a bright, fresh display – now aged and withered as time has passed. Rebecca Goddard’s bulbous pink globules also stand out, emanating connotations of disease, yet still holding a tentative delicacy, acting to accompany a rather evocative piece of text that is jarring in its brazen emotivism.

While these stronger works are admittedly spread few and far between, there are enough to justify at least an hour or so of focused staring and vague nodding. Personally, I found myself enacting this cliché when looking at Tina Hannay’s plastercast light switches. Thousands of these objects slot against each other, effectively making up a whole wall of intricate objects. Slight changes in the colouring of the material transform the image at a distance into an almost pixelated blur, before one approaches and realizes what is creating such gentle depth. In conversation with the artist, it would appear that the interpretive was placed at the forefront, contrasting against the binary nature of the item itself. The connotations of the everyday object, the material, random ‘on’ and ‘off’ positions, huge multiples and the muddying of singular affects in to a homogenous whole, imply so many things that each potential response could be diametrically opposed to another. I like that, as the artwork is saying ‘you do you, bro’ while also staring you down relentlessly, like a passive-aggressive older sibling.

Aside from Fine Art, I found myself engaging with the photography pieces the most, due to a distinct divide between what I could see at the possible intent of the work. While some students had embraced the need to exist as a professional after graduation – specialising in car or fashion photography – some had renounced that entirely, focusing on the image itself, or the human subject. Each tactic has its merits – but it is genuinely fun to marvel at the strikingly stylised and technically adept products put forth, no matter the intention. Alongside this, the specific focus of the artists must be commended, as there was clearly a very specific, defined concept in mind before any shoot. The days in which one acquired a photography degree by taking thousands of photos and choosing the two better ones are evidently long gone, replaced with intent, context, precision and style.

These examples are only a miniscule element of the frankly humongous showing this year – much bigger than ever before. It would take me far too long to outline every single piece that I felt was worthy of memory. To put it in context, in Boardman House (opposite Storm in a Teacup café) you can find Animation, Architecture, Film and Games Design students, while also gawping at the stunning architecture of the building itself. Further down the hill, the Guntons space holds Fashion, Graphics and Illustration students, while St. George’s is Fine Art, Textiles and Photography. It is huge.

If that wasn’t enough, retail therapy can also be revelled in at this year’s exhibition shop - jokingly titled Unexpected Item in the Bagging Area. Here you can pick up related items to the show itself, potentially giving an artist the gift of their first piece of work sold as an actual professional. Why not indulge yourself, while also cheering up a stressed art student?

If nothing else, this is an opportunity to gain an insight in to the state of the next generation of artists. Trends within creative industries are often manifest in universities first (or shortly after,) before they become linked inextricably to their field. What is occurring right now is the most comprehensive snapshot in to all artistic forms, in a very prominent art establishment, so it’d be silly not to have a cheeky peek.

In conversation with Carl Rowe, head of the Fine Art BA course, he mentioned the positives of coming and studying here. If you are creative, this is the place for you, as this will give you the opportunity to experiment, learn and develop while living in a wonderful city. I cannot deny that the exhibition showcases this ethos, as the sheer range presented can only occur as a by-product of putting open evolution and adaptive education above all.

Yet, no matter what I claim to be the best reason for visiting, the flyer is much more succinct in its argument;

“See them before they are famous.”

I cannot see why you wouldn’t be tempted.

Norwich University of the Art’s Graduate Show is on from 27th to 5th July, 10am-7pm with some variance in closing times.

Visit nua.ac.auk/degreeshows for more information.