Reflections of an Alumni

Manchester School of Art Degree Show Review 

Experiencing the opening night of the annual Summer Degree show of the Manchester School of Art

is an act of captivation, contemplation and reflection. As a previous graduate of the course it is always a sentimental ascension to climb the stairs into the transformed environment that one once referred to as the their creative hub for some of the most formative years of their life.

The decision to split the show over a number of sites across the city, due to ongoing refurbishments of the All Saints campus, was met with hesitation from some attendees of the show. Though, in retrospect it allowed all of the showing students to fairly show the fruits of their labour and have their moment in the spotlight.

Attempting to make an accurate judgement of the show in one fell swoop is an arduous task, so upon revisiting the show it is much easier to recognise the works of those that stand out from that of their peers.

Within the Fine Art show there seemed to be a wealth of works reliant upon abstraction, heavily invested in the deconstruction and thinning of the materials that compose the works themselves. The paintings of one individual stood up and beckoned the viewer into the realm of their work. Rafal Topolewski

’s aerial landscape paintings in particular were something to behold. Topolewski seems to truly harness and accentuate the qualities inherent in the materials that he uses. The application of simple, but well considered brushstrokes of glossy oils within the boundaries of his earthy palette seem to generate many moments that the viewer can revel in.

The Interactive Arts course is a staple ingredient in the success of the show and always conjures up a wide variety of creative delights to engage in. Ryan Higgins and Alex Renshaw’s piece

promotes the key idea of communication in the creative process whilst also looking into the tradition and creative’s endeavours that have taken place with Manchester School of Art. This was achieved through the unveiling of the frame commissioned to display the William Morris tapestry “The Adoration of the Magi” in 1894.

The final set of works that really caught the eye were Rob Morris

’ set of portraits. Despite having completed his BA as part of the Illustration with Animation course, these small, painterly portraits simultaneously capture and disseminate the essence of the characters portrayed, supporting the notion of commenting on the role of the media and its ability to create negative opinions amongst it’s consumers. The actual portraits are executed instinctively with a trust and understanding in the behavioural qualities of the paint’s materiality.

It is always inspiring to see the wide and diverse range of creations that each graduating school year can conjure up under one masthead before embarking upon their own personal creative journey. Overall it must be said that the show was a huge success.