The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Visual artist Saskia Singer shows off one of her pieces which feature in the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art degree show. Picture: Mhairi Edwards.
School of art, design and architecture to become Scotland’s largest exhibition space for hotly-anticipated event
Art-lovers are gearing up for one of the biggest events in Dundee’s cultural calendar this weekend.
The Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Design and Architecture degree show launches on Saturday, when DJCAD will be transformed into Scotland’s largest exhibition space for 10 days.
Visitors will be able to see work produced by final-year students graduating in diverse disciplines including fine art, textile and jewellery design, architecture, illustration and graphic design.
Various cultural events will take place until May 26 during what is set to be the biggest week of art and design in the city to date, due to the opening of the V&A in September.
Professor Andrew Atherton, principal and vice-chancellor of Dundee University, said: “Our degree show taking place at the same time as a major V&A touring exhibition, and all the other exciting events scheduled, is a major milestone in terms of what the city can offer its residents and visitors.”
One of those due to exhibit their work is mature student Sandra Allan, 54, who fulfilled her long-held dream of going to art school.
Her work, featuring cardboard sculptures of the former mining village of Thornton in Fife, explores the breakdown of community and gentrification.
She said: “I didn’t get a great education at school but it was always my dream to go to art college. For me it’s all been about feeling fulfilled as a person.
“I was elated when I was offered a place.
“The sense of achievement is a great feeling and I would urge anyone who left school with no qualifications, or has had children very young, to go for it if they want to go to university.”
Another student exhibiting at the show is Saskia Storey, whose project revolves around the work of psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott, and his work with getting children to explore their feelings through drawing shapes.
The 25-year-old said: “My work is all about play – I’ve played with ideas and materials, and really wanted to make use of all the materials available to me in my final year. I’ve used things salvaged from a skip, such as lightning earthing tape, as well as wood, ceramics, plaster – and also I did some prints.”
Meanwhile, digital interaction design student Jenna Maudlin has designed an interactive playsuit which allows children to control a video game with their movement.
The suit is designed to reassure parents concerned with their offspring’s screen time and lack of exercise.
The show will launch at 10am on Saturday at DJCAD’s Matthew building, and will thereafter be on from Monday to Friday 10am-8pm, and Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm.