ex 2010 is the fourth show in a series of exhibitions showing the work of students that have been previously been on the Leeds College of Art Foundation course.
The exhibition shows the work of eleven artists who have just graduated from a BA course in the last year, their work selected by three foundation course tutors after visiting fourteen degree shows around the UK.
Using the vast space of the central stairwell in the Vernon Street building, the exhibition holds well in such a difficult setting. The artists and curators haven’t tried to overfill the walls, but to make simple statements, some of which, like Rachel Westerman and Tom Cookson’s interventions, almost disappear into the walls.
As an ex-student of the Foundation course myself I am well aware of its reputation, but it is still surprising to see the quality and breadth in this show.
Tim Puleyn’s work occupies a side corridor, in keeping with the linearity of his Unit 12 – 43m series. Taking a collection of red wooden beams he walks into the city, stopping to arrange them into varying sculptural forms, only to take them away again within two hours of them appearing. A series of strict rules are applied to the work; destination, time, number of photographs – yet they speak of an organic reaction to the landscape of the city.
Ruth Campbell’s series of photographs ‘Filthy water can’t be washed’ are hauntingly beautiful. Simple splashes of colour and abstract shapes populate velvety black backgrounds. On closer inspection the rich blue is a discarded plastic bag, the canary yellow is a floating lemon. It is a stark reminder that what we throw into our water doesn’t get washed away; objects snag and snarl.
Leeds College of Art is one of the few remaining independent art schools and there are dozens, if not hundreds, of successful artists that have passed through the Foundation course, with the degree courses gaining in strength and reputation each year.
But there is still a beat being missed: access to ex and the other exhibitions in the college is only on weekdays. Many people are totally unaware that they are allowed to access college buildings to see the exhibitions.
It feels like the college has not ingrained itself into the cultural fabric of the city. To make a college really successful it needs to be a key player in its city’s culture, that is what makes it great and that is what draws in the students.
Inroads are being made through the new exhibitions programme and the hard work of the tutors but so much more could be done.
Prioritising exhibitions and the private view events, giving them more support and publicity to create a real buzz and excitement, opening at weekends, investing in a proper exhibition space, giving students spaces to experiment with showing their work to the public, having a decent college bar that opens at night and weekends.
These are all things that would really enliven Leeds College of Art and then it could start to challenge the likes of Glasgow and the London colleges because it would be providing more than just an education, it’d be creating a cultural scene.
ex is at Leeds College of Art, Vernon Street building, 16 september 2010 to 8 october 2010, 9am to 4pm weekdays only.
http://ex-interim.blogspot.com/
Also showing in the Blenheim Walk building:
Until 24 September – E3 4RR, the work of artists represented by Matt’s Gallery
Until 25 February – Californian Graphic Designer Jason Munn – The Small Stakes
http://leeds-artexhibitions.blogspot.com/