About the exhibition
On behalf of the School of Design & Creative Arts it is my pleasure to welcome you to our Art & Design Foundation Studies Postcard Exhibition for this year entitled 'Inversion'.
We selected our theme for this year as we reflected on the upturn and gradual reversal back to some sense of order that our world has experienced in the last few years. Our aim is to celebrate and develop the positive elements of our shared global and individual lived experiences as we explore the visual possibilities and concepts of our theme. We continue to build upon the enduring collaboration and bonds between our two universities, our cohorts of students and personal friendships within our staff teams and student experiences.
I am delighted to be able to present the exceptional range and quality of work produced by all of our students. Thank you all for your contributions to this year’s Inversion exhibition.
The responses exhibited here will be mirrored in our virtual gallery and have been developed by our Foundation students and the Joshibi students from Japan as a result of their investigation and exploration of the theme “Inversion”. These responses are the conclusions to their one-week project development and are supported by extensive visual explorations and sketch book work.
Students in each of our pathway specialisms of Textiles & Fashion, 3D Design, Fine Art and Visual Communication have undertaken personal and considered research related to the Inversion of processes, making techniques, materials investigations and a broad range of responses to their chosen research sources. Generating diverse perspectives and interpretations of the theme they have followed their personal curiosity and interests using related words to explore and extend their thinking. Developing physical inversion explorations with materials, processes, surface manipulations, print making, colour and photography as well as the consideration of concepts, thinking, inversion of ideas and shifts in direction.
In this 9th year of our continued collaboration with Joshibi University in Japan their curation students have paired a Joshibi and a Loughborough image and shared their process and insights in their curation gallery. It has been positive and inspiring to be back together and able to share creative developments face to face with fun, laughter, encouragement and real care. Our workshops have been lively and emotional as sketch books and ideas have been investigated, discussed and shared with friendships and bonds created.
I would like to thank the incredible team of knowledgeable, positive and tirelessly enthusiastic Foundation staff for their continued support & good will which makes this project and exhibition possible, with special thanks to Ann Charlish for her amazing input. I of course extend these thanks to Linda Dennis, Katsuaki Sakata and the students & staff at Joshibi university who make our continued collaboration such a rewarding experience. Thanks also to Jonathan Walters and his digital team for their skills and support with the continued growth of our virtual gallery websites and to Henrietta Pocock and the LU English team for their support with the development of English skills and confidence which greatly impacts our shared experience. I extend my personal thanks to all involved in this enriching creative experience.
As we enjoy these positive events, exchange of ideas and common ways of thinking I am mindful of the difficult situation for so many in Turkey & Syria, as well as the personal loss within our close creative Arts community. As we reflect with compassion on our shared human experiences we are reminded that we have much shared humanity, kindness and compassion that bonds and brings us together.
I hope you enjoy our Inversion exhibition and might be able to make a donation to our chosen local charity LOROS who supported Rosy and her loved ones. Rosy and Mike's story can be seen in the link below and in our Gallery tribute. All contributions, small and large, are much appreciated and will make a difference to those who sadly find themselves in need of support at a devastating time. Thank you.
Julie Wallace,
Programme Director,
Art & Design Foundation Studies, SDCA
LOROS hospice appeal
We hope you enjoy our Inversion exhibition and might be able to make a donation to our chosen local charity LOROS hospice. The fundraising is in memory of our dear friend and colleague, Rosy Chetwynd-Appleton who sadly passed away on 23 December 2022. All contributions, small and large, are much appreciated and will make a difference to those who sadly find themselves in need of support at a devastating time.
