Showcase 2024 Student Spotlight: Katy Shaw
Student Spotlight featuring BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design, Katy Shaw, and her project, 'The role of art in the expression of authenticity '.
By Antonio Cuyas | Published on 20 May 2024
Categories: Student Showcase; School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment;
The project
In the year 2084, the world is dominated by technology. Every aspect of day to day life is managed through digital screens, every personal memory is stored in the cloud. This ability to filter through everything you have ever witnessed, although helpful at times, has caused many people to become obsessed with what they perceive as ‘real’. With these memories stored as if they are just another piece of data, the importance of keeping them ‘real’ has become clouded. The power of AI means people can change their memories with the click of a button. This has caused confusion and stress among many, and has fuelled the dream of escaping from the technology, going somewhere to get away from the world and create real memories, something you can touch, hold, see and really experience.
A small group escape from the city and discover a ruined Abbey and an old VHS machine which triggers a memory of a member of the group who is a retired artist. An idea is formed immediately, art is the answer. The artist begins to sketch, paint and sculpt and to use her skills to teach others in the group. They use the site and everything they have witnessed to break away from the world as it is, to use art as a way of grounding. As they continue to sketch and sculpt, questions form. “Can this help others?”. The space begins to assemble; an art studio to create, a memory bank to store these ‘physical memories’, an observation area for sketching and observing the surrounding area, and a space to let loose and doodle without the worry of the final outcome.
The inspiration about the project
The inspiration behind the project is the process behind creating art and the many forms that it can come in. Some inspiration was also taken from the extension to York Theatre Royal by Patrick Gwynne, in particular, the organic forms of the main structural element.
Being part of NTU
It has been a great experience and has really pushed Katy to develop her skills and knowledge. The environment within studio really promotes a supportive and social atmosphere, meaning there are always people to bounce ideas off.
The facilities available, such as the model-making workshop and laser cutting/ 3d printing room, allow for so much freedom to realise your designs.
Closing remarks
Although the course is challenging and lots of work, it is an extremely rewarding degree. The progression of skills from the start to the end of the course shows how much is learnt throughout the length of the degree and the sense of accomplishment is huge.
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