The work in the exhibition is as unique as the artists themselves, as the show traverses a diverse range of styles, mediums, and concepts. From painting, printmaking, and sculpture to installation and video art; their talent and innovation are on full display. As students who faced the challenges of the pandemic and ongoing global issues of the climate, conflicts, and injustice, the degree show reflects the impact of our current atmosphere. Themes of loss, nostalgia, and displaced emotions can be traced through some pieces. Artists such as Melanie Colbey, Aida Verala Berga, and Annie Weatherly grapple with the outside world by examining their inner experiences.
Others such as Joseph Brady, Kub Bradley, and Manako Maddison investigate the relationship that we have with nature; how our interactions are shaped by the urban landscape, our bodies, and how we satisfy ourselves. In a world obsessed with identity politics and the female body, Maddie Fox, Meghan Nolan, and Phoebe Scott explore the subtleties of the feminine experience. The complexities of intimacy, queerness, and self-esteem are intricately explored through the female body, a site of such debate, imbuing the artwork with an embodied nuance.
The degree show is a chance to celebrate the processes, ideas, and artistic practices that the students have refined while at art school, and the work certainly doesn’t disappoint! From cardinal red bunnies in a cage to a colossal fly big enough to make a giant scream and ghostly wax headstones, this exhibition is a must-see event of the year. On the cusp of leaving the framework of university, this show is an exciting opportunity to see the artists of the future ‘before they got big’ as they firmly cement themselves as formidable forces to be reckoned with, ahead of entering the art world.