Office Session III - Office Party

40 Chelsea MAFA students, past and present, plus a few outsiders to make it interesting!

Be Inspired Contemporary Art Auction

Be Inspired Contemporary Art Auction is in aid of 

The Prince’s Foundation for Children & the Arts

Wanderings 04 2013

An opportunity to bid for one of Roberts's, original works on paper, went live this afternoon, via Paddle8. Get bidding!    

Works involved in the collection will be auctioned online by Paddle8 from 17th September to 1st October.  The auction includes a selection of art from artists such as Marc Quinn, Gavin Turk, Idris Khan, Tracey Emin and Xavier Mascaro.  Online bidding ends on 1st October, culminating in a live auction on Wednesday 1st October at the Saatchi Gallery, London.

The aim is to raise funds to expand the charity's work with children in hospice care. For more information about the charity please click here.  

Reflections on Taste - the publication is out there!

ISBN 978-1-908339-12-6

Introduction
A collective of Chelsea's Fine Art and Textile Design postgraduate came together to present their own observations and questions of taste after Bourdieu.  Led by UAL academics, Dave Beech* and Malcom Quinn*, the reading group for 'Taste After Bourdieu' was inspired by Own Jones' writing on the demonization of the working class and 'Chav' culture, and Jukka Gronow's examination of taste and fashion, informed by Immanuel Kant and Georg Kimmel.

Through a visual, tactile and interactive confession booth, the group sought to provoke the subtle and sometimes obvious denials, ironies and conflicts of private versus public tastes. Because we elicit ourselves in relation to those around us, a question of ego becomes pertinent: how can you, as an individual, foster a taste that is unique, not perverted by conformation to the standards of others? Whilst this may seem like a leading question, it merely points to the networks we enact, and the ways in which we position ourselves within them. To what extent does desire for a beneficial position, one that garners acceptance or validation or sorts, skew our behaviours? Are we made to play the role of fearful subject, telling the cultural emperor how magnificent their new clothe are?

In the worlds of Fine Art and Design, such questions of positioning and mediation can be related to the commercially viable product.  As makers of things, the question arises: can taste transcend behaviour? There is a difficult ground to be broken, and a pertinent question remains: is the extent to which identity and expression are bound to systems of commodification, a bad thing?

The Confessional Booth and the publication is a culmination of the groups' thoughts, questions and observations.

*Dave Beech is a Chelsea College of Art and Design Senior Lecturer - BA Fine Art
*Malcolm Quinn is Associate Dean of Research and Director of Graduate School Camerwell, Chelsea, Wimbledon Graduate School.

To read more, or for further information about the collective publication, please contact Alex directly.

July 2014 - experimental installations

Suspended polyesters, organza silk, and silk fabrics with ladies leather shoes.

'Unpicking my practice continues, as my work is stretched, and the challenges advance at Chelsea.' AR   Watch this space... undoubtedly, more to follow!

Collaborationem - works in situ.

Positive reactions, useful feedback
"I was particularly impressed by two of the installations...
I was very taken with the image of “the messenger” juxtaposed by a personal reflection in the mirror.
...to see oneself as the messenger was a powerful expression of “self,”...
The fish said that I was “passionate” which I hope is true...".   

The Messenger & You 2014  60cm x 50cm x 2  
Acrylic mirror, oil on linen, fortune telling fish, candles, votive candle stands.

Collaborationem - further details

http://kelise72.com/2014/06/19/at-southwestfest-collaborationem-st-saviours-pimlico/

Collaborationem - Thurs 3rd - Sun 6th July

Chelsea College of Art, Fine Art postgraduates assemble for the South West Festival

Studio variations - April/ May 2014 update

Female faces 04, Francesca - variations

Acrylic and oil on crinoline & oil on linen, 2 x 40 x 30cm

Oil on linen & oil on polyester (sail cloth), 2 x 40 x 30cm

Confess your taste

Confess your taste -

Taste After Bourdieu, Chelsea Research Conference

15 - 16 May 2014  
Chelsea College of Arts, Banqueting Suite, 45 Millbank, London, SW1P 4RL

A collaborative group of Chelsea’s Fine Art and Textile Design postgraduates have come together to present their own observations and questions of taste after Bourdieu.

The reading group for 'Taste After Bourdieu' was inspired by Owen Jones' analysis of Chavs and the demonisation of the working classes alongside Jukka Gronow's examination of taste and fashion through the lenses of Immanuel Kant and Georg Kimmel.

Through a visual, tactile and interactive confession booth, the group seeks to provoke the subtle and sometimes obvious denials, ironies and conflicts of 
private versus public tastes.

To what extent is the individual able to nurture and foster taste according to their unique palette, without conforming to socially approved standards of taste?

Does human desire for acceptance and validation force the individual to play the role of fearful subject observing the emperor’s new clothes?

When translated into the worlds of fine art and design, to what extent is the majority of current output inspired by commercially profitable taste versus what might be the artist’s or designer’s contrasting aesthetic and creative truth?

We invite you to confess your taste.

For more info about the conference, Taste After Bourdieu, please click here

The Camden Group 2014

Female faces 02 2014 - Camden Group show

The end of January, witnessed a one-night, exhibition of works from a collective of Chelsea MA Fine Art students, housed in a undisclosed, London location - it was an opportunity to see fellow students endeavours, in an alternative context.

The first, of a series of paintings, working with female faces was viewed at this event, more to follow...

Female faces 02 Spider 2014

2014 - New Year studio news

Face series 01 2013

Autumn 2013 saw the start of Alex's postgraduate study (MA Fine Art) at Chelsea College of Art and Design, University of Arts London.
She is critically, 'art theory' engaged (with lectures, inter-disciplinary seminars, extensive tutor and student discussions at Chelsea, and beyond), and her personal, studio practice is being positively challenged. The plethora of input and critique, is creating an exciting time. Several series of works are underway - watch this space! 

2014 The Berlin - London stimulus and work dialogue continues - more to follow this year. 

2014 Alex continues to work at the ICIA, University of Bath as a PT Artist/ Tutor. She is delivering her course: Observations in Painting. 'A platform for you to think and act like a traveller' (The Art of Travel, Alain de Botton).
The spring semester starts on 18th February 2014 - for detailed information please visit https://www.bath.ac.uk/icia/classes/class-visual-arts.php

Wishing everyone a peaceful and fruitful New Year!