City & Guilds Foundation Show 2024
Student shows are good for identifying new trends, and this year’s Foundation show made me wonder if City & Guilds has banned the human figure. A handful of painters have jumped on the “hazy figurative” bandwagon without adding anything new to that overused approach, while another half dozen or so went even further out of their way to display humans in any way other than literal. Faces created from discarded household objects. Bodies hinted at using flowers, paint pans and umbrellas. Even teeny tiny miniature men climbing on fruit sculptures are an attempt to subvert the human form. It was refreshing to see so few “people”.
There’s also plenty of abstracts, both canvas-based and sculptural, along with the expected tranche of works addressing sexual, gender and identity issues, though I didn’t see much about race or politics. However, many of the ‘message-based’ works felt like an uncertain first step. That’s understandable in a foundation show, and especially since statement art can easily be polarising, but I hope the students exploring those areas continue to do so and that this show gives them the confidence to get bolder and more ambitious in their approach. Artists have the potential to trigger discussions the rest of the world is reluctant to address, but those conversations can’t get started from cliché.
One final note: I walked away wondering if the students appreciate that this show is attended by collectors, critics and galleries. Most of the displays had a name only. No explanations. No Instagram. Nothing. Maybe it’s an intentional low-key approach, but now you know why not everyone is tagged in my post.
Right… let’s get to the work!
Here are ten artists that caught my attention:
1: Ella Cadogan (@ellacadogan) — pretty in pink pastel pigs
2: Esther Haward — are these sculptures inflating or deflating?
3: Finbar Craig-Martin — abstract or figurative?
4-5: Joné Estherhuysen (@jone.e_art) — challenging sight-based art expectations via a tactile wall
6-7: Katerina Jimack (@katjimack.art) — funny faced totem poles made from household objects
8-10: Liz Mclaren (@lizmcart) — mourning the loss of affordable homes
11: Ruby Mcclymont — would you rather find a worm in your apple?
12-13: Sasha Ranawake (@sketches_sasha) — captivating stories in postcard-sized paintings
14: Slesinger (@slesinger_) — some outstanding etchings
15-16: Violetta Dawes (@violetta__dawes) — abstract sculpture that looks like an alien, fruit bearing fungus
Plan your visit
‘Foundation Show 2024’ runs until 19 May, 2024.
Entry is via the Kennings Way entrance on 100 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4EF. Access to the show is via two flights of stairs.
Visit cityandguildsartschool.ac.uk and follow @cglartschool on Instagram for more info.
PLUS…
Check the What’s On page so you don’t miss any other great shows closing soon.
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