Liverpool Hope University Students – In the Window, May 2021

May 2021

This month, we are pleased to display a selection of work from current students on the BA Design course at Liverpool Hope University.

Each of the five selected students are presenting a collection of work inspired by a visit to the Bluecoat Display Centre’s Jane Adam solo exhibition (2019) and a handling session focusing on surface treatment as part of the Bdc’s ongoing professional development module in partnership with BA Design, which takes place very two years. Additional sources of inspiration came from Blundellsands beach, nature, sea life and contemporary makers and artists.

The students have experimented with surface texture and form, working across a range of disciplines including textiles, ceramics, metalwork and jewellery.

Image (Above): Aluminium and copper neckpiece and bangles by Andrew Lawrence.

Images (Below): Handbuilt porcelain, paper clay and steel wire maquettes by Sinead Coyle (Left) & Digitally printed textiles and original sketchbook drawings by Kathryn Keane (Right)

Sinead Coyle

As an aspiring female artist and feminist, I often use my work as a platform to express my own personal and political views. In my independent project I aim to transform the patriarchal idealisation of the graceful, fantasised female nude, into a political tool that asserts the female experience purely centred from a female perception.

It is estimated that women artists still have roughly one opportunity for every four of the opportunities open to male artists. I aim to highlight that this sexism is not a thing of the past and to educate the viewer by edifying their perceptions on the female experience. By incorporating expressive poses inspired by life drawing classes along with the manipulation of materials and textures, I aim to form a series of sculptures expressing the raw emotion rooted in every woman’s societal experience throughout their life.

Kathryn Keane

My initial ideas and designs all start with drawings from nature. The natural form fascinates me and I like to echo the patterns, textures and motifs in every aspect of my work.

Following a visit to Crosby beach in October 2021, I decided to create this particular body of work along the theme of sea life. The seashells and many other objects I collected at Crosby inspired me to appreciate the natural beauty in our environment and express this through my drawings in Textiles, Metal & Ceramics.

The techniques and processes I have used are etching, hammering, sinking, screen printing, foiling, dyeing, hand-building, glazing, 3D printing, laser cutting and using the digital printer. Engaging with a variety of processes has helped me to develop as a designer, creating beautifully organic pieces in paper, wood, textiles, metal and ceramics.

Sarah Kirk

The source of inspiration for my project are the bashed, rusty objects that I collected from the beach at Blundellsands. I have also been influenced by the jeweller Jane Adams, in particular her textures and her technique of trapping pearls inside her jewellery. In terms of form, I have been drawn to the work of ceramic artist David Hicks, enjoying his use of unusual shapes and forms grouped together.

My own work is designed for anyone who likes to handle or touch interesting objects, to turn them over, to rattle them around, to feel their qualities. They are all intended to appeal to the senses. I have used print, stitch, press forming and hand building techniques working with a variety of materials

Images: Ceramic bangle with glaze and resist techniques (Left) & Screenprinted textiles with geometric patterns by Jenny McArdle (Right)

Andrew Lawrence

Heritage and the juxtaposition of the old and new coming together arbitrarily is what precipitates through my work. My inclination is to have an initial idea as a base note, then allow the idea to organically manoeuvre and metamorphosize itself from the very first strike of the hammer or the very first print captured on textile. With there being no set pathway as to how my designs develop, process influences me to garner technical information rather than ideas, which culminates in original fluid final pieces.

Jenny McArdle

For my project I was inspired by the natural world where I initially took inspiration from a field trip to Crosby beach. I was very much inspired by the variety of colours and the texture of the rubble and pebbles that have been washed up on the beach from the 2^nd world war. The contrast of smooth and sharp objects is an area I wanted to explore further within the studio.

For my woolen cape made from unspun merino wool, I wanted to create the smoothness of the pebbles and a feeling of comfort and calm. In contrast I threaded off cuts of sharp metal shards giving an armor like exterior to the piece.

I am interested in mixing materials and experimenting with various processes to convey a juxtaposition of qualities, producing tactile objects that challenge our perceptions of everyday objects.

I hope to continue and develop this area of research.