Talented UHI Moray Fine Art students reflect on ‘Being Here’ with School of Art exhibition

MORAY’s emerging artists are showcasing their work at UHI Moray’s latest exhibition.

UHI Moray’s third-year Fine Art degree students are presenting their end-of-year showcase this week, running in Moray School of Art’s gallery space from April 22 – 26. Titled “Being Here”, the exhibition is the first time many of the artists have showcased their work and gives them to opportunity to show their learning and artistic growth over the first three years of their course, ahead of their final degree show next year.

The showcase features a diverse range of works and art styles including painting, drawing, sculpting, and textiles.

Krzysztof Zajaczkowski’s work focuses primary on nature, as a homage to his great-grandfather, a Polish forester who fell victim to Nazi persecution and features a cherry tree and art created from tree ash.

Haddie Farquhar, on the other hand, has focused on her interests in dark fantasy, weaving together elements of escapism and shock value to create an immersive experience for viewers. She said: “My work is all about escapism and it’s just very fun and its great that it has that the shock value too. If it makes people go ‘woah’ then I’ve done my job. This is my first big exhibition, so I’m really excited and I can’t wait to see everyone’s reaction to it.”

Students were particularly excited about this year’s showcase, after a period of uncertainty about their future when UHI Moray considered cutting the Fine Art degree course altogether.

Rach Goodison, who is showcasing her work looking at the parallels and history between nature and humanity, said: “I’m very excited about the show. I did not think I would be with all of the uncertainty and everything going on with the course, I had a lot of anxiety about the show, but now I’m feeling very positive and happy about it.”

Echo’s project focused on their experience with burn out, using the Japanese art of Kintsugi, to repair and transform broken sculptures. They said: “The whole project has been a journey and quite healing. At the beginning of the project with things happening in my life and with the course everything started off quite sad and uncertain but now things are really hopeful.

“I feel really good about the exhibition now, I’m enjoying seeing everyone’s work together and working together. I never thought this day would come with the course and now things are looking more hopeful for the future.”

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