ADT DEGREE SHOWS '07: Capturing American Culture In British Homes
25 May 2007
One of the exhibits from Steve Schofield's collection.
The work is intended to have an element of humour to it, and I think that comes across.
”Steve Schofield
One of the exhibits from Nick Judd's collection.
University of Derby student Steve Schofield has chosen his trusted camera as a medium to offer a unique interpretation of George Bush’s foreign policy and the invasion of Iraq.
Steve’s interest lies in how American culture is digested by his subjects and is integrated into British life. He depicts fans of American films and TV shows.
Within the images, the 37-year-old shows people in their own homes and environments, wearing costumes they may wear to attend special events with other like-minded individuals such as cowboys, Elvis impersonators and Sci-fi fans.
The final year Photography student, from Newcastle-Under-Lyme, is a rising star in his field, having already featured at a number of exhibitions nationwide, and collecting a series of awards for his work.
His work has already attracted a glittering array of accolades including the BJP Endframe competition, a short-listing with the Ian Parry Award: Documentary Photography Category, and a full page in the Sunday Times Magazine.
Members of the public have the chance to see his work as part of the As Is exhibition, in our new £21m Markeaton Street building, which is the final year showcase for all final year students studying on the BA (Hons) Photography course.
This exhibition forms part of the University’s annual Arts, Design and Technology Degree Shows, taking place from June 8*. It features the cream of talent from final year students on this course. There will be a separate exhibition later that month at Q-Arts, in Derby.
All 22 final year Photography students from Derby will then take part in a national exhibition to display their work, at Free Range 2007, at the Old Truman Brewery, in East London’s Brick Lane.
This prestigious exhibition showcases top university photography talent nationwide, from May 31 to July 23.
Steve and fellow Derby student Nick Judd, have had their work featured as case studies in the advertising campaign for the exhibition, All 22 Derby students will have their work on display to the public from July 6-9 – July 5 (private view).
Free Range is the Europe’s largest graduate showcase of over 2,500 art and design students from 60 of the UK’s top universities nationwide. There is something for everyone – all the artistic disciplines are covered, including art, design, photography, interiors, textiles and product design. Visit www.free-range.org.uk
This is the first time Derby’s course has shown its work in the capital, and has been organised by the students themselves. The show gives the students a presence in what is regarded, next to New York, as the Art capital of the world, as well as boosting the University's profile on the national stage.
Here’s more details about Steve and fellow student Nick Judd’s work:
Steve Schofield
Contact: www.steveschofield.co.uk
“My work is about the influence of American popular culture in the UK. I started the course in 2004, and was outraged by the USA's involvement in Iraq, and Bush's foreign policies generally. I wanted to make a response, but nothing too 'obvious'.
“I decided to look at how the US manages to influence the world with its popular culture and in turn creates a kind of global brand. In the first year I did mainly street photography, but in the second, I started to consider what the effects of this global culture were once consumed and re-enacted by British people.
“The work is intended to have an element of humour to it, and I think that comes across. What has come out of it though is how much you notice about the subjects' very British surroundings. I think it's because the two sit so uncomfortably with each other. There's an incongruousness about the people sitting and posing, like they don't belong in some way.”
Nick Judd
Contact: nickjudd1@hotmail.com
Nick's work combines a documentary photographic tradition with the constructions of cinema. He uses light, colour, gesture and scale in both the private spaces of the home and scenes on the street to imagine the inner lives of the subjects. In his recent series, '7 April 2007' we see time passing on the street. Men and women appear and disappear, masculinity and femininity collide. In these unposed moments, something of the nature of desire and loss in our lives might perhaps be revealed by a stance or in a gesture, all played out against the constantly changing landscape of the city.
Both Steve and Nick thank the University of Derby’s academic photography team for their support through their studies.
*ADT Degree Shows
Steve and Nick’s work will be showcased at this year’s Faculty of Arts, Design and Technology's Degree Shows in June, which represents the culmination of the dedication and talent of this year's new graduate designers and artists at the University of Derby.
The Private View evening will be on Friday 8 June from 6pm - 9pm. The show will be officially opened at 6.30pm at Markeaton Street by David Joyce, Chief Operating Officer VINCI PLC.
This year's shows will be spread across our Kedleston Road, Britannia Mill and Markeaton Street sites. For all the information about the locations, the dates and times for public viewing and to see students work, please visit the Degree Show website: www.derby.ac.uk/degreeshow.
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Notes to editors:
Recent Steve Schofield credits include:
Special mentions include a solo exhibition and inclusion in the Birmingham Open and the Derby Open. As part of the Ian Parry Award, he was featured in a show at the Getty Gallery in London. Last year, his photographs were included in the AOP Gallery London and the RPS National Print Exhibition and he was runner up in the Ilford student print awards. He has also won the Kentmere Open Print Awards.
Recently Steve also had a two month solo exhibition at the Midlands Art Centre Birmingham entitled “Land of the Free” (www.macarts.co.uk).
For more details please contact Simon Redfern, Senior Press and PR Officer, University of Derby on 01332 591942, or email s.redfern@derby.ac.uk.
