MA Photography Degree show at Ambika P3
I am a firm believer that every person can interpret art however they want to. Don't get me wrong, art history and knowledge is important to humanity's development,
But you shouldn't need a degree to understand art. A piece of art can mean so many things to different people, even if it's not the 'right' thing. And that's what makes art beautiful.
That being said, whenever I attend modern art exhibitions, I welcome any booklets, guides, information desks. As sometimes I feel that I can appreciate art more if I know its origins and its meaning.
This weekend I went to the MA Photography degree show of the University of Westminster, after I found out about the event on Instagram.
The Ambika P3 venue was easy to find, being a short walk from Baker Street. Upon arrival, I found out that it was the degree show for the MA Photography Arts (“Light into Matter”) and MA Documentary Photography and Photojournalism (“Out of Dust”) degrees.
For me, the exhibition had a rocky start. The first part, "Shattered Seconds" by Mike Cookson, was hit and miss, until I came home and read the description. The rusting cars, tyres and debris in the middle of nature showed the passage of time and the look of the area surrounding London's edges. The use of geotags for naming each photograph was a unique detail.
As soon as I descended the stairs, I was instantly drawn to Krystian Data's "Within Without" exhibition, which showed the human body in an abstract and sculptural form.
Krystian Data - Within Without
The I Mind section by Hannah Leadbeater and the Mind in Harrow chose to do a participatory project, as individuals with experience of mental health issues photographed each other in an attempt of noticing and being noticed.
Hannah Leadbeater - I Mind
Tania Diez explored women from different faiths in God is a Woman. Religious figures are usually seen as men, so she gives us a well-needed look into women as leaders in the communities of faith.
Tania Diez - God is a Woman
My main reason I wanted to attend was because of the Longbridge part of the exhibition.
Longbridge is an area in the south of Birmingham with a rich history. I've had the privilege of working there as an Event Planning intern, for the Longbridge Public Art Project. Life revolved around the Austin car factory for 100 years, from 1905 to 2005, so the community is still recovering from the loss of countless jobs and a unifying identity. Longbridge: Some Dreamers Dream by Stephen Burke beautifully explores and addresses the changes in the area and the loss of a unifying identity – but the gaining of a new, complex, varied one.
Stephen Burke - Longbridge: Some Dreamers Dream
Following the EU referendum, most immigrants now fear their status and uncertain future. Moat by Ives Salmon explores immigration in this glimpse into the life of London residents. As the status of many remains uncertain following Brexit, the exhibition looks into the shift in the atmosphere.
Ives Salmon - Moat
There are far more brilliant artists exhibiting at both the “Out of Dust” part of the exhibition and the “Light into Matter” one. I urge you to go as soon as possible – the exhibition ends on the 5th of September and it is open until 7pm.