New Student Works Share Space With Historic Artist
6 July 2012
Student Lauren Spencer's work 'Uncollectables: A museum of being', to be displayed at Derby Museum and Art Gallery until November.
Vered Lahav, University Senior Lecturer in Photography.
Verity Bowater's beautiful photographic diary of changing landscapes.
Images of grinding poverty and a cupboard filled with 'fleeting moments' are among the new University of Derby creative works specially selected to share a space with those of historic Derby artist, Joseph Wright.
Work exhibited at the University's annual Degree Shows in June - by final year BA (Hons) Photography degree course students Verity Bowater, Lauren Spencer and Artur Conka - will go on show at Derby Museum and Art Gallery from today (Friday July 6) until November.
At the very start of their creative careers the three students' works will share the same building as a collection by globally renowned 18th Century painter, Joseph Wright, and be seen by thousands of visitors.
Verity's beautiful photographic diary of changing landscapes and Lauren's intriguing artwork entitled Uncollectables: A museum of being - a small chest of drawers filled with individual prints showing fleeting images of birds, skies, clouds, etc - will be displayed in the 'Visual Poetry of 1001 Objects' gallery, at Derby Museum and Art Gallery, from today until November 30.
In addition, a photo-book based on Artur's short film project about the gypsy community living in the crumbling Lunik IX housing complex in Slovakia - where he himself lived as a child - will be endorsed by Derby Museum and Art Gallery. Copies will be available to view in the site's shop and can be purchased online.
Andrea Hadley-Johnson, Exhibitions Officer at Derby Museum and Art Gallery, was on the judging panel which chose the three works from the many displayed at the University's Degree Shows.
She said: "In addition to our programme of exhibitions we are committed to creating opportunities to support emerging artists. This year we are delighted to offer a special award to these three students from the University's BA (Hons) Photography course.
"Our partnership with the University aims to profile the selected artists' creative talent and provide a valuable step on their professional careers, of exhibiting to a diverse audience.
"The students will work closely with the museum's curatorial team, in the installing and interpreting of their works, and they will be exposed to the museological process and context the works will be shown in."
Lauren, 25, of Radcliffe Drive, Derby, said: "It took a lot of effort to create and put together the hundreds of photos that went into my work, Uncollectables: A museum of being. It's hugely rewarding that it will now be displayed at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery."
Verity, 22, originally of Walsall, added: "I'm completely overwhelmed and delighted to be exhibiting my work at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery. My work conveys a visual interest in the places and people around me, with the intention of emphasising the beauty in the overlooked and ordinary moments of everyday life."
Artur, 22, originally of Queen Elizabeth's Drive, London, said: "I had never imagined that my work about the plight of the Roma would be showcased at so accomplished a museum as the Derby Museum and Art Gallery. I really am humbled and gratified."
Vered Lahav, University Senior Lecturer in Photography, added: "This is a real validation of the quality of the students' work.
"Having their final year projects recognised and displayed like this at Derby Museum and Art Gallery is marvellous for the start of their careers as professional photographers."
The selected works will be unveiled before an invited audience at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery at 5pm tonight (Friday July 6).
For further information about the University of Derby's Photography courses see website www.derby.ac.uk/photography-ba-hons
To learn more about Derby Museum and Art Gallery see its website at www.derby.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums-and-galleries
Media needing more information should contact Press & PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk
