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Art & Design

Interdisciplinary
Degree Show

2010
 *
This publication presents the work
of twenty-six graduating students
from the BA (Hons) Art & Design
(Interdisciplinary) programme at Leeds
College of Art. It accompanies our
degree show exhibition, open to the
public from 18th - 24th June 2010.
The exhibition showcases individual
final projects and offers a snapshot
of emerging art and design practice
With this in mind third years collectively
chose to organise this book into three
sections. This is our best attempt at
descriptions with a large disclaimer.

Section 1: Concerned with objects

and materials - their meanings, values
and narratives, craft and the role of the
designer-maker.

in the region today. The management Section 2: Negotiating the term design-
and production of this exhibition and art. A nod to folklore, popular culture
publication is entirely student-led. and storytelling.

The interdisciplinary nature of our Section 3: Concerned more-or-less with

course invites exploration of possible identity, site, politics, performance,
relations between art, design and social engagement and the public
wider society. Over three years students realm.
develop individual directions as they
practice making art and design work
for themselves and for others.

In studio discussions over the last six

months some loose groups formed
around recognition of shared concerns.
Although these groups never became
fixed (or labelled with any satisfaction) Dan Robinson
they did provide some useful structure. Course Tutor

2
The impulse of curiosity provides a
momentous drive and motivation for us
to learn, understand and reflect upon
ourselves. Curiosity rather than talent
or ability is a dynamic motivator in our
pursuit of understanding, questioning
and challenging each other and
ourselves. We are all too familiar with
the tragic results of the curious in the
mythology and tales throughout ancient
and modern times. Yet, in spite of
these dire tales, curiosity and the desire
to be inquisitive; to un-pick, explore
and experiment with material and
immaterial stuff excites and enriches our
practices throughout our lives.
Over the past few years we have seen
the transformation of these students
into a diverse and dynamic community
of individuals. They have taken risks,
faltered, and been confused and clear
of intention; whilst striving in their
differing ways to understand themselves
and their practice. This struggle is
driven by inquisitiveness to push, pull
and form a position that will provide
an exciting framework for their future
practice and careers.
‘Curiosity’
Many of them will continue to challenge
and question their position in relation
to their research in theory and practice,
and their place within the wider world.
These dynamic people have begun
to establish voices for themselves and
become creative invertebrates, able
to respond to and create networks to
support future opportunities.
What they have found out and shown
is that the contradictory elements of
relentlessness, concern and casualness
have multiplied their potential routes
of inquiry. They have challenged
themselves and us; and we wish them
all every success in their futures.
Cheryl L Huntbach
Course Tutor
May 2010
Students
Sian Morrison 10

Kerry Murray 12

Jessica Falcus 14

Jessica Hone 16

Margaret Kay 18

Ann Barrett 20

Mohammed Aslam 22

Elise Goldin 24
Shahena Begum 28

Jack Scales & Joe Torr 30

Janet Allison 34

Karen Ridley 38

Marianne Doumani 40

Catherine Chialton 42

Iona Ascherson 44

Aron Klein Barge 46

Cara Buttress 50

Kate Dickinson 52

Matthew Hynds 54

Chris Wren 56

Kirsty Maclean 58

Roy Wood 60

Martin Jessop 62

Stephanie Bartscht 64

Fiona Winter 66
Sian Morrison
Mostly, mostly, mostly concrete; an
uncharismatic material. By nature
associated with construction, now
removed into the dialogue of aesthetics
and value through an alchemic approach.
Practice exhibits a variety of outcomes
including archives, decorative objects,
jewellery / body adornment
and installation.
10
This installation epitomises concrete
spatial construction whilst the form offers a
sense of containment with a destabilising
effect in the combination of material and
meaning. Thus, concrete is host to new
identities with the presence of inside
and outside connotations. A sense of
adaptation to new environments, through
the combination of tastes and values.
sianmorrison@live.com
concrete-alchemy.blogspot.com
Kerry Murray
My current art practice explores the link
between artwork and artist. My interest
in Art Therapy has driven me to focus
on how an interdisciplinary artist such
as myself can observe and enquire after
their artwork in a therapeutic manner.
Art Therapy can be seen as important
process for any artist or designer as
the connection between artwork and
artist enables creative growth. In this
installation work I have chosen to focus
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on memorabilia of my grandmother;
memory and recall is a key strategy
used within Art Therapy. I specialise
in casting methods recreating emotive
found objects; I am interested in how
the process of casting helps preserve a
moment in time. I have created a past
memory which invites my audience
to sense an experience personal to
me. This transition of energy between
cast and collected objects, and the
transition between me as the artist
and the audience, results in a
therapeutic environment.
kerrylouise.murray@yahoo.com
Jessica Falcus
The development of my practice is
moulded around the term ‘restriction’
and how we are able to remove
movement from our bodies through
wearable sculpture. Several ideas
have focused on innovative structures
and repetitive construction, forming a
complex and abstract sculpture.
My Interdisciplinary practice focuses on
the process of ideas and through
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the research of a material, the pieces
become continuous and in most cases
temporary and site specific. The
manipulation of the material often
makes reference to the framework of
the human body and how the figures
forms and functions can be modified.
It is important to stress creativity and
innovation as central to this piece,
which in turn forms exciting and
ambitious ideas. Because of this the
viewer becomes exposed to new
thoughts about fashion and sculpture
and how the two can develop together.
jessicafalcus@hotmail.co.uk
07793218025
Jessica Hone
Jessica Hone works mainly in the
jewellery and body adornment area of
design, and her practice is influenced
by personal experiences, memories and
elements such as pattern and texture.
Her current work is focused around the
forgotten stories and key memories from
the influential female role models in her
family, particularly those from the World
War Two era. A mix of methods such
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as knitting, crocheting and sewing are
collaged together with vintage objects
and photos of significance to celebrate
the traditional aspects of family life and
the matriarchs that were sometimes too
often taken for granted.
By realising this ephemera in jewellery
pieces Jessica has created trinkets that
can be worn and then eventually cast
aside, later to be found again to
evoke memories and retell long
forgotten stories.
jesshone@yahoo.com
Margaret Kay
Hand-fabricated highly decorative Inspirational to my practice are
objects transformed as jewelery, mechanisms and spherical objects
sculpture or 3D object. Bags, boxes which link ‘sentimentalism with
and belongings incorporate triggers an antiquarian outlook on
of interaction with the wearer or user personal objects’.
explored on the body, or as a stand
alone piece. My work transforms
coppers sheets into forged and
detailed, etched surfaces honed to
a highly polished finish.

margaret.k@talktalk.net
margaret-kay.blogspot.com

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Ann Barrett
My work explores and observes
the aesthetics of forms from the
domestic environment and the
processes by which something
acquires value or importance materially
and socially. My intention is to alter
perspectives on everyday objects
and events; by changing the
meaning, function and material, the
viewer is invited to respond to and
reconsider their perspectives towards
everyday circumstances.
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My current work uses casting
processes, gilding and digital imaging
to give commonplace objects a new
function and value. By using indulgent
materials such as gold leaf, porcelain
and the traditionally valued blue and
white ‘willow’ pattern as inspiration, the
mass-produced objects acquire
new meanings and can be read on
multiple levels.
annie_b70@hotmail.co.uk
Mohammed Aslam
Mohammed Aslam is a 3D practitioner detachment and breakdown. Thus,
working in material manipulation the concepts and materials used are
that incorporates a diverse range of inextricably connected.
substances such as wax, plaster, latex,
jelly, and other everyday materials. His investigation continues further into
the dialogue of video and photography
The work embodies strong personal, as a new material integrated within the
emotional and psychological 3D practice.
connotations, which illuminate and
reflect upon various aspects of life
such as repetition, fragility, loss,

www.mohammedaslam.co.uk

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Elise Goldin
Elise is an interdisciplinary designer
who focuses primarily on creating
functional objects and artefacts.
Her aim is to marry original ideas
with striking aesthetic quality, with
an ongoing challenge to attain that
perfect balance between form and
functionality. Her work requires
participation and interaction, as Elise
considers that a connection with the
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objects is central to successful and
appreciated design.
Using specialist techniques, she has
worked with a number of different
mediums, ceramic, plastic and wood.
Having an intricate understanding of
materials enables her to expand and
develop her practice in line with current
trends, whilst still initiating innovation
as the key to contemporary design.
elisegoldin@hotmail.com
elusivegoldin.blogspot.com
 “The art of life
lies in a constant
re-adjustment to our
surroundings.”
– Okakura Kakuzo
Shahena Begum
With an inherent need to be
understood, humans communicate non-
verbally using signs and gestures that
are understood privately, universally
and individually.
Shahena Begum observes and studies
the link between the psychological
scope of the mind and behaviour,
recording the imagery and patterns of
this intricate relationship.
shanna2banana@googlemail.com
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She conceptualises an understanding of
the mechanics of the mind, connected
to the emotions expressed in the body.
This has led to a preoccupation with
the visual expression of neuro patterns
and psychological connections.
Her work represents the issues and the
relationship between communication,
interaction, Design and Art. Shahena
attains to the viewers’ need to learn
through imagery and pattern work.
www.monkeyoftheinkpot.com
Jack Scales & Joe Torr
Keep it dense, yeah?

Check out the website, It’s well fuckin’ futile

www.limnlimnlimn.co.uk

30
Limn, A Nation of Shopkeepers, (25/04/10)
Janet Allison
MYOMORPHS
Migrating between the fields of art,
craft and design, Janet Allison develops
ideas heavily based in tales and
storytelling. She explores tangible,
tactile narratives and encourages
engagement through intrigue,
discovery, surprise and parody.
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The Myomorphs range explores the
tense relationship between rodents and
domestic space, often characterised by
finding the ‘mouse in the teacup’.
Playful yet decadent and luxurious,
these tableware objects recollect vague
notions of tall tales and nursery rhymes
set in the idyllic romantic styles of
Rococo, Baroque and Neoclassicism.
info@janetallison.co.uk
www.janetallison.co.uk
Karen Ridley
My work involves engaging in diverse I believe that history should be kept
materials and includes a combination alive and never forgotten.
of drawing and 3D design techniques.
I create 3D books using materials such My work is a mix of narrative objects,
as card, paper, metal, Perspex, plaster, educational items creating works that
clay and fabric in order to produce art are art books that act as pieces for
books as objects. rememberance and revival of historical
events.
For my current work I created a series
based on true and fictional events of
the holocaust.

Karenridley19@hotmail.co.uk
http://karenridley.comxa.com/Index.html

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Marianne Doumani
As an interdisciplinary artist/designer,
Marianne blurs the boundaries
between art and design practices
through her ability to respond to a
variety of briefs to produce a range of
creative interpretations. Marianne often
combines manual finishing techniques
with computer-aided design to produce
refined outcomes informed by a loose
narrative. These practical outcomes
usually stand alone as high quality
marianne_doumani@hotmail.co.uk
40
objects which can also be appreciated
in terms of their aesthetics, attention to
detail and demonstration of
practical competence.
In more recent projects, which
have been inspired by concurrent,
independently sourced industry
experience with the Design Council’s
Designing Demand Programme,
Marianne has developed an interest in
both screen and print based graphics
which subsequently explore the loose
concept of communication
and branding.
Catherine Chialton
My current work explores the and paper, then go from there. I would
relationship between fine art and like to make my work available to
graphic design through various everyone and would want people to
disciplines and medias. My work is enjoy it in many ways.
an interdisciplinary hybrid that reflects
a loose narrative and expands to a
visual platform. I try to consider and
use motifs and images, which I then
proceed to manipulate in various ways
and possibly transfer. I like to explore
from starting with the basics of pencil

ahoy@catherinechialton.com
www.catherinechialton.com
showcake.blogspot.com

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Iona Ascherson
Inserting marco into the micro, Iona
usually combines macro industrial and
residential buildings into biological
micro-environments. Thematically she
attempts to organise/antagonise the
issue of the anxiety and emotion of
living environments and the lifestyles
within them; country vs city, industry vs
organic, animate vs inanimate. Recent
work has explored a wide range of
concepts such as the subconscious,
statistics, architectural determinism
and identity.
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Over the last three years she has
moved from a predominantly hand
drawn and 2D portfolio to a range of
many more 3-Dimensional, and varied
mediums and works. Iona uses a
combination of hand drawings, paper
craft, collage and casting to create
subverted and vibrant illustration on a
variety of themes. She takes inspiration
from life experience, nature, sights
and sounds of the cityscapes and the
animal kingdom.
jointhepenclub.blogspot.com
Aron Klein Barge
Street art has acquired an association
of labels and names. My work
wrestles with this as it deconstructs
the visual identity, searching for small
gaps between labels. Removed from
the initial understanding of Graffiti
through a process that redefines and
stretches its limitations, my work seeks
to embrace a broader language and
ultimately alter its perception within
society. My work aims to engage the
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public with the streets that they occupy.
Intending to elicit an emotional and
imaginative response from the viewer;
the sense of experience is equally
important as the aesthetics.
Re-Fashioning bricks; A visual palette
of the urban environment, street art
and formal elements to both document
and translate. My practice integrates
photography, graphic design, and
3D for installation and public art.
Using methods of abstraction to
create areas of infinity, the detail and
distortion of a surface transforms
and interprets cityscapes.
aronkb1@hotmail.co.uk
visuallydyslexic.blogspot.com
“Imagination is free”
Cara Buttress
Within my work I am fond of using the
personal experiences of friends, family
and peers around themes, which are
typically banal in nature- this acts as
a starting point for cataloguing and
developing my ideas.
My pieces tend to take a two
dimensional approach; illustrations,
prints, laser cut imagery. On the one
hand the external aesthetics can be
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read light-heartedly, however there is
an underlying narrative to the source
of imagery that I use. This means that
the way the work is read becomes
subjective from viewer to viewer.
My practice has looked at collections,
the associations tied between owner
and object, transforming the mundane
into visually stimulating pieces.
carabuttress1@hotmail.co.uk
Kate Dickinson
Kate Dickinson is an interdisciplinary
artist challenging human interactions
with everyday scenes, highlighting
hidden spaces and forgotten places
with the use of video, photography
and performance. The work invites the
audience to attain a new perspective
on the location.

dickinson1@hotmail.co.uk
www.iseeilikeitake.blogspot.com
tomyselftomorrow.blogspot.com

52
Matthew Hynds
“A time capsule - decaying, splintering,
shedding its memories. An old husk,
being transformed into luxury flats,
walls bleached to reflect the sun.
The stains of the past are washed
away, but the people live on. How
do they reflect on their experiences in
the rambling Victorian complex, once
known as West Riding Pauper
Lunatic Asylum?
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My film weaves social history with
performance and dance to paint one
possible answer, which in itself raises
many more questions. How does the
physicality of this building affect those
that come into contact with it? On a
foggy day the asylum sails out of its
own past like a ghost ship, towards a
certain future of cold economics. The
building will not exist as a quiet ruin
much longer, fading within its grounds.
Already, the machinery moves in.
Here is my brief meditation on this
haunting place.”
matthewhynds@hotmail.co.uk
Chris Wren
Chris Wren is an artist / photographer I enjoy the interaction between the
who investigates the media’s use of subject and photographer and the
the male archetypal hero, and the immediacy of the confrontation
feminizing of the male figure. Social between the viewer and the image
class, tongue in cheek humour and within this digital age.” (C. Wren)
the communication of masculine
ideals inform his attempt to convey
the narrative behind the work. The
approach to male archetype is
informed by a dissertation exploring
subcultures of bodybuilding and
Friedrich Nietzsche’s ‘Superman’.

cwren@hotmail.co.uk
www.chriswren.org

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Kirsty Maclean
My work documents the practical
applications, within society, of social
theories surrounding anthropology,
sociology and psychology.
By examining the lives of individuals
and social groups, I am able to make
a visual comment on society today.
The collections pay particular attention
to mass tourism, capitalism and social
classes. They also examine personal
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shifts in attitudes and emotions amongst
individuals, groups and how these
affect our society. My method is to use
documentary photography with highly
contrasting saturated colours to draw
the audience in and produce a reaction
and subsequently a conversation.
‘The art of this piece is the conversation
it produced’ (Clayton, 2009)
kirstymaclean1@hotmail.com
www.kirstymaclean.co.uk
kirstymaclean.blog.com
Roy Wood
Roy Wood uses photography to
challenge perception. His imagery
is constructed with a balance that
combines compositional quality and
narrative exploration.
The passion for photography comes
from the love of creating an image
within a frame.
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The current project explores and plays
with the devices of photographic
portraiture. Originally looking for truthful
emotion, the use of mirrors allows
access into contrived, pseudo-natural
responses. A unique relationship is then
created between the figure, and the
partial reflection of the photographer.
Creating work primarily to answer his
own questions, Roy aims to continue
exploring the relationship between the
photographer and the subject.
royhalvard@btinternet.com
www.theroywood.com
Martin Jessop
since 1985 cultured/ignorant
“i don’t care”/attention seeker
witty/shitty happy/melancholy
asbo/toff deadpan/slapstick
unapologetic/sorry arrogant/humble
great/flawed refined/slob
smart/stupid slag/prude
flippant/serious determined/nonchalant
loud/quiet lover/broken-hearted
sporadic/planned liberal/fascist
anal/chilled out aggressive/gentle
neat/hectic compliant/contrary
attractive/horse face
a walking mass of contradictions

hello@artschoolwank.com
www.artschoolwank.com

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Stephanie Bartscht
Design is the underlying matrix of life.
We cannot escape it. Whilst it can
bring positive change to our societies
it simultaneously damages that on
which we so rely- our environment.
Comfortable in our transient societies,
it is important to question the
repercussions of what we do.
Have you ever thought about what is
involved in the production of the
things you use, or what happens to
them afterwards,
plasticbottleawareness.blogspot.com
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Intrigued by their influence on
design, my practice is fuelled by
a genuine belief that the salvation
of our environment starts with the
assessment of design, understanding
its role in shaping societal behavior.
Acknowledging that all aspects of life
are interconnected, I aim to awaken
social conscience through promoting
and facilitating lifestyle choices that are
both realistic and sustainable.
Change The Way You Drink is a social
venture that employs marketing and
ethical promotion to publicly question
the plastic water bottle whilst presenting
a better alternative- the stainless steel.
changethewayyoudrink.co.uk
Fiona Winter
Consider this- a vision of an urban
community on the brink of change.
Utopian, sinister, damaged, damaging,
fragmented, temporary, soulless,
canonised, and manipulated. A clash
of two worlds. A figure on a walkway
spanning the sky. Are we being sold
a utopian myth? Are social needs
identified in urban areas? Is there a
sinister side to design in big cities?
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My work seeks to convey the utopian
myths being sold to the community,
creating false hope for local people
who really lack the recognition and
identification of their social needs.
artwork practice reflects on social and
political issues that affect communities
and presents the sinister side of big
business and urban regeneration and
the displacement of the community.
I seek a reinterpretation of meaning
brought about by the use of mass
produced materials, which comment
on consumerism.
“Art is not a
handicraft, it is the
transmission of
feeling the artist has
experienced” – Leo Tolstoy, ‘What is Art?’ 1896
This exhibition examines states of
being within a changing society that
is sincerely questioning traditional
understandings of the design of
society and our need for an authentic
experience of it. Much like banging
atoms under closer inspection it’s at
first difficult to see how integration
can be achieved. Despite the clear
development of design/ art objects on
show, throughout these works prevails
a sense of defining self narrative; the
throw away; secrecy and nothingness;
fantasy and realism; snapshot
ephemeral pieces.
Objects themselves appear to
disappear in a superfluous flurry and
are exchanged for the experience,
acquisition of knowledge; a
displacement of artefact. Indeed this
group of artists deal with immateriality
even as they throw materiality in
displays to their audience.
Perhaps it is a higher sense of
purpose. Whilst interdisciplinary can
be assumed to be the integration of
chosen disciplines, incorporating
traditional methods and media with a
new found approach, this body of work
demonstrates the slipping between
disciplines. They work at the heart
of a personal philosophy that slides
across Immateriality and art/ design
objects to develop an interdisciplinary
understanding of the object.
So these works review and reflect on
our situations through personal narrative
and the systems of design that encode
society. ‘Art as life’ and , ‘Make it new’
are profoundly modernist in thinking but
these are demonstrated amongst the
very acknowledgment of acceptance of
unstable times and a new ethic to face
and engage with what is right beneath
our noses. My utter regard goes to this
group of ‘interdisciplinarians’, who
detoxify, to bring a sense of wonder
and play, to a society that is perhaps
tired and bored of the same old story.
To new narratives I salute thee.
Joanna Geldard
Course Tutor
 Sponsors
A big Thank You to this year’s raffle sponsors:

Euphoria Audio Brand

Leeds City Council

Nando’s Restaurant

Sak’s Hair & Beauty

Esport Gym

Sainsburys
Acknowledgements
Cheryl Huntbach Michael Flower
Dan Robinson James Smart
Victoria Kershaw Simon Harrison
Paula Chambers Matthew Burton
Jerome Harrington James McBeath
Scott Lee Crosby Bridget March
David Appleyard Joanna Geldard
Steve Hoffman Garry Barker
Andrew Sames Andrew Joskowski
Don Cameron Paul Bennett-Todd
Elizabeth Riley Gareth Wadkin
Matthew Parkes Caroline Pratt
Roger Berry Karen Tobias-Green
Jonathan Greenwood Christine Bampton-Smith
Michael Corker Francis Bosley
 www.twentysix.info

Designed by Andrew McGowan (www.mcgow.co.uk)

& Scott Colley (www.rinsedesign.com).
Portrait photography by Roy Wood (www.theroywood.com).
Website design by Jack Scales (limnlimnlimn.co.uk).

Contact: Cheryl Huntbach

Leeds College of Art

Blenheim Walk
Leeds
LS2 9AQ
United Kingdom

0113 202 8000

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