Nottingham Trent University students launch 'Aftermath' exhibition at Nottingham Contemporary
MFA Fine Art students will be launching a new exhibition in collaboration with Nottingham Contemporary on 22 and 23 May 2021.
The MFA Fine Art students have researched recent exhibitions at the Nottingham Contemporary to inform and develop this new series of work. The new exhibition titled: ‘Aftermath’ includes a range of media including sculpture, sound, installation and painting.
The new work was inspired by recent Nottingham Contemporary exhibitions including: Grace Before Jones; Camera, Disco, Studio and Jimmy Robert: Akimbo.
The MFA Fine Art students include James Briggs, Melisa Cerriku, WooSun Choi, Luke Knight, Janhavi Sharma, Amy Sidebotham and Klara Szafrańska. The students have collaborated with postgraduate Interior Architecture students Dina Hegab and Qin Zheng who designed the exhibition. MA International Fashion Management student Alexandra Craciun took the role of Graphic Designer and MA Photography student, Kathleen Stewart documented the making of the exhibition.
We spoke to MFA Fine Art student James Briggs who commented on his experience of developing Aftermath: “Responding to the exhibitions as a group, we raised discussions through themes of identity, ownership and the relationship of the body in relation to the exhibition. It was an enjoyable process, listening to the curators and how they went about planning the exhibition - and really it was through listening to the processes it inspired me to create my sculpture. Collaborating with other students not only from my own course but from other courses was an invaluable experience.”
The students have also produced a newspaper to accompany the show, including features on each student, behind the scenes images, and more information about the processes and inspirations behind each piece of work.
This opportunity allows students to create connections with the creative industry in Nottingham, as well as gaining valuable professional experience. James added: “To work with Nottingham Contemporary was a great experience and to understand the many steps that go into preparing for an exhibition really gives you perspective. Through producing our publication for the show, we had the opportunity to see how Nottingham Contemporary would plan their publications for exhibitions, which gave us as a group an idea of timescale, marketing, content, quality and cost."
"The MFA at Nottingham Trent University has provided the opportunity to work with Nottingham Contemporary and through that has created dialogue resulting in creating future contacts in the relevant industry. The MFA has pushed myself and my work in a direction that has challenged me productively.”
Katy Culbard, Programme Manager at Nottingham Contemporary commented: “It’s been brilliant to see this project materialise, and to witness the resilience of the students taking part: what a true test of collaborative working, creative thinking and adapting practice. I’m thrilled that Aftermath 20201: Reimagine will be part of the long waited re-opening celebrations at Nottingham Contemporary – a perfect way to showcase the longstanding partnership between us a Nottingham Trent University”.
Course leader for the MFA Fine Art, Andrew Brown, added: “The Aftermath project is a highlight of the MFA year and offers students a wonderful opportunity to respond to current cultural themes through the prism of their own practices. This year the artworks that have been created are especially ambitious and the support from other Masters students and the team at Nottingham Contemporary has been excellent.”
Find out more about the exhibition and download the Aftermath Publication here.