Goldsmiths Postgraduate Degree Show 2024
This year’s show includes just over 130 student presentations spread across six buildings. Impressive stats, but simply way too much to take in. It took me three hours, and the last few dozen booths definitely didn’t get my most focussed attention. Art fatigue is a real thing.
The vast majority of the students presented installation art or large sculptural exhibits, frequently augmented with audio or video elements. The production quality was generally high across the board, especially compared to installations I encountered at some other degree shows. As regards noticeable trends, there was surprisingly little painting — I counted just a handful of artists working solely on canvas — but a large number of artists utilised piles of soil, sand or other grainy organics in their work.
There was also a higher than expected number of WTF moments (one specific presentation about suicide made me wonder if Goldsmiths has a mental welfare officer) and some purely conceptual pieces made me question whether I’ve lost my sense of humour or those students really were giving a two-fingered salute to the art world. I was also let down that very few of the Film and Moving Image presentations held my attention for longer than 30 seconds. As with every degree show, however, I went with an open mind and kept my eyes peeled for potential.
Here’s 14 things I thought were worth sharing:
1 — Beverley Duckworth - @bev.duckworth
This giant pile of charity shop rejects covered in newly sprouted heirloom seedlings made me question how many pairs of jeans I actually need.
2 — Carmen Gray Puente - @gray_carmen
I was smitten with the detail of these plaster cast boots.
3 — Choi Hancho - @choi_hancho
One classic Burberry mac, Hagrid-sized. Good luck getting this thing dry cleaned without a surcharge!
4-6 — Emilia Gonzalez Salgado - @emilia.g.s
I couldn’t get the scent pumps to work but the sculptural steel and ceramic tree was a well produced blend of materials.
7-9 — Ilke Şahin - @that.ilke
One of the few works that made me consider a return visit, this is listed as a “material performance” since the liquid will dry and the floor will crumble under visitors feet.
10-13 — Jeehee - @jeehee_kim_studio
Colourful abstracts made from wallpaper, tiles and other household decorative finish really brightened up my day. I especially enjoyed seeing works nested into the floor.
14-17 — Jiwon Yoo - @yeonsin_nae
If you’re going to painstakingly make 25 detailed paintings of your bathroom you might as well hang them unironically using PVC plumbing and chrome towel rails.
18-19 — Lingxuan Le - @lingxuan_le
Unsettling, giant resin/plastic ceiling drips. Bonus points for providing miniature, 3D printed versions for visitors to literally pick.
20-24 — Lou Mengyan - @luomengyan
This one had major Ai Weiwei vibes but it’s hard to find fault with such a thorough execution. I wasn’t sure if I could walk on it, but Instagram clearly shows that happening with other visitors. Another exhibit that made me curious to see how it evolves over time.
25-26 — Raheel Khan - @raheelkhan____
I couldn’t tell if this was satire or sacrilege and the deep bass noises making the metal shelves reverberate forced me out before I could figure it out.
27-31 — Rong Huang - @strangerrong
Setting aside obvious Cornelia Parker comparisons, this was a beautifully executed installation.
32-35 — Vladimir Lalić - @vladimirlalic
I was somewhat let down that this elaborate sculptural installation turned out to be an overly elaborate joke about ‘dickheads’. Or maybe it’s a retribution work from a scorned artist?
36 — Wei Fang - @zhidao_diji
Weird Al isn’t going to lose any sleep worrying about being dethroned as the musical parody king, but Mr. Pigeon, sung to the tune of Roy Orbison’s ‘Pretty Woman’, has been on loop in my head for three days.
37-42 — Ya Hsuan Hsiao - @xcloudy_worldx
In lieu of an artist statement I decided this was an elaborate tribute to a beloved, but deceased, family pet.
Plan your visit
‘Postgraduate Degree Show 2024’ is at Goldsmiths (@goldsmithsmfa) until 16 July
Check the official Art degree shows webpage to confirm address as well as opening days & times.
PS — The Department of Art gets extra mega bonus points for once again providing simple handouts that list all the graduates, detailed photo books for each of the degree categories, and a plethora of signs that made it incredibly easy for visitors to find their way around the campus.
PLUS…
Check the What’s On page so you don’t miss any other great shows closing soon.
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