The art exhibition encouraging a new perspective
Look around you. Our streets are rife with homelessness, the political views of the people in Scotland are greatly ignored by Westminster, and people are struggling with loss all across the nation in more than one way. Simply looking at this is not enough; an action must be taken.
A group of third year students studying Graphic Communication at Edinburgh Napier University were tasked with creating projects surrounding the themes of ‘Freedom’ and ‘Loss’. These projects were displayed in an exhibit in the French Institute in Edinburgh which ran until February 3.
Myrna MacLeod is the programme leader of the Graphic Communication course at Edinburgh Napier. She overseen the students picking a societal issue and presenting this issue through art. When asked what the inspiration behind the project was, Myrna responded, “I wanted to introduce the students to looking at a big issue in a different way and take their ideas into a territory where graphic design meets art.
All graphic design is experienced by the viewer, and it was important for pieces to make the viewer feel something.”
They did just that, with creating a diverse range of projects which explore a large variety of societal issues.
Of course, when conducting such a broad project, there were always going to be some obstacles for the students.
“Sometimes making is a complex process, as it involves a lot of sourcing of materials and using machines”, said Myrna.
It’s important to be organised and focused on time, so the students learn a lot from the process.”
As well as the students benefiting from the project and developing their artistic flare, the French Institute were also very keen to host art from a young generation of artists as they shed a different light on these issues.
Communications and Cultural Development Officer, Daniel Boden, was heavily involved in the exhibit and wanted it to inspire and also be unexpected.
“The exhibition shows pieces designed by students of a high artistic value. It focuses on unexpected and undesired freedoms.
The exhibit is also really important in highlighting the partnership between the French Institute and Edinburgh Napier. It shows the cultural value that is implicated in our community.”
I spoke to two of the students who took part in the project. Both created two pieces. Kelsie Baird, 20, created two pieces with one looking into the loneliness of the elderly in our society.
“My first piece centered around the elderly in society that become contained, almost prisoners in their own home because they are forgotten about.
When the most vulnerable in society are left behind because they become a hindrance to our daily lives then we leave them to be surrounded by only their things.”
As if the impact from the first piece was not hard hitting enough, Kelsie also created a second piece, relevant to the politics of today and how Scotland’s voice is not being heard.
“I feel that Scotland do not get a voice in the UK wide elections simply because our voting system is set up so that the bigger the place, the more votes that are counted.
This is not fair because it leads to us being outvoted each time. So to be blunt, I said you may as well chuck your votes in the bin rather than a ballot box.”
The second student I spoke to was Anna Woods, 20, who decided to look into the theme of freedom.
“For my two pieces, I looked at the loss of sight, in particular Glaucoma, which is also nicknamed ‘The Silent Thief of Sight.’ This has a major impact on experiences within environments such as art galleries, where sight is relied heavily upon.
Perhaps visiting galleries was the figure on the bench’s favourite thing to do, but now this experience has changed drastically due to their sight being taken.”
Anna’s second piece looked into the way people interacted with visually impaired individuals.
“My smaller piece shows an egg within a case, with the warning sign ‘Careful! With other people’s feelings’. This egg was a critique on how some people treat visually impaired people – as if they’re going to crack.”
More exhibits are expected to be held like this in the future at the institute as it benefits the students, the institute and the public.
Myrna said, “I love to see the student’s ideas coming to life – sometimes I’m just blown away with what they produce. I think they enjoy seeing their work as a group in such a lovely setting.”
Written by Chloe Burrell
