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Student(s)
/Department
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Description
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FIRST
PRIZE
Anna Usborne & Victoria Rothschild
Ceramics and Glass
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"The starting
point of our proposal looked at how concrete has developed as
an architectural material over the past century and how the popular
perception of concrete has dramatically changed in more recent
years. Early structures, which tended to be cold and devoid of
human interaction, have been enriched by a new generation of designers.
By combining concrete with traditional, natural materials and
exploiting the potentials of concrete’s structural simplicity,
it has become more sensitive to its surroundings and inhabitants.
It is now being seen as an almost semi-precious, chic building
material that seems to encapsulate all that is modern. One of
our key sources of inspiration for this investigation of material
focused around architectural interiors and light features came
from a quote by Tadao Ando: "Architectural materials are
not limited to wood and glass that have tangible forms, but go
beyond to include light and wind which appeal to our senses".
In developing the project we focused on combining clay and glass
with concrete. The porcelain and concrete light strip uses a wallpaper
impression in the translucent porcelain to give a more domestic
feeling to the concrete. Mixing these two materials was interesting
because the opposing inherent qualities within porcelain and concrete.
One is considered so precious and fine, the other supposedly not.
We hoped to subvert these perceptions. We mixed glass with concrete
to make a second light strip. The textured glass was set into
the concrete to create a dramatic lighting effect highlighting
the underlying structure of concrete and magnifying the texture.
This application of glass and concrete could be used for articulating
the shape and form of interior structures such as arches, alcoves
or doorways."
The judges praised Anna and Victoria for the broad range of experimentation
that they had achieved by close collaboration and trying to use
both their disciplines to the advantage of their work. The pieces
were of such excellent workmanship and the poignant juxtaposition
of the contrasting materials was held in particular regard by
the judging panel.
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SECOND
PRIZE
Peter Fullagar & James Tuthill
Industrial Design Engineering
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"The aim of
the ‘Fab-panel’ was to challenge the preconceptions
of concrete as cast block form. We envisaged thin concrete drapes
hanging as a frozen moment. Capturing the delicacy of flowing
fabric in a snapshot. In rethinking the material we considered
its applications as wall panelling or room dividers to be used
in bars, clubs, restaurants and offices. This proved to be a technical
challenge that resulted in developing a repeatable fabrication
technique. Our experiments lead us to a variety of forms from
drapes, to patterns and lettering. No two forms can be identical
giving the panels individuality and character. The finished piece
imitates a hanging drape to form a soft and inviting surface that
is light, playful and tactile."
Peter and James really impressed the judges with the technical
advances for the Fab Panel. The initial concept ideas were pushed
as far as possible within the time available and the two students
gave a very convincing presentation.
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THIRD
PRIZE
Naomi Matthews
Ceramics and Glass
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Naomi proposed
to use concrete in a creative and innovative way to create pieces
of work, which are to be displayed in public places with the potential
of being site-specific. Whilst commenting on today’s society
through the use of cement and the subject matter of animals. She
says: "the technique I have been exploring with cement is
one which can be associated with clay slip and plaster work. I am
trying to make concrete more fluid and pliable by using sheets of
material, which I dip and coat in a concrete mixture, then I wrap
or lie these onto a fabricated metal armature."
In her final piece ‘Peeing Dog’, Naomi produced a welded
metal armature of a greyhound-type creature, which was galvanised
prior to application of the concrete fabric strips. Close up inspection
of the dog reveals how carefully the strips of material have been
twisted and layered around the armature to represent a dog’s
skeleton and muscle tissue. By leaving discernable gaps in the dog’s
concrete skin, Naomi’s piece proved to be a striking and thought-provoking
talking point. |
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THIRD
PRIZE
Susan Collins
Sculpture
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"My
piece ‘Concrete Evidence' looks for all the world like an old,
wooden table, similar to those found in artists studios, paint-splashed
and bearing the marks of wear & tear. It is only by actually
touching it, that it becomes evident that it is, in fact made entirely
of different types of cements, some of which have been stained and
patinated. The table-top has been cast in White Portland Cement
and many of the marks on the surface have been separately cast,
some with bronze and silver powder, others have been stained. I
am interested in the shift of perception that takes place in the
viewer, when something that is originally thought to be worthless,
is found instead to be the result of painstaking care and attention
to detail. This piece forms part of a body of work that I have been
completing in my final year at RCA, which all use trompe l’oeil
effects to encourage the viewer to consider issues surrounding value,
craft & labour. The image of the splash, or random mark, appearing
in all of these pieces, have become for me, a motif to suggest an
increasingly hidden and unwanted side of the manufacturing process." |
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HIGHLY
COMMENDED
Julie Francis
Printed Textiles
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•
Who says concrete can’t be soft?
• Who says concrete can’t be warm?
• Who says concrete can’t be fluffy?
• Who says concrete can’t be beautiful?
• Who says concrete can’t be fun?
So goes Julie’s introduction to her final portfolio of flock-concrete
options – ‘Hardly Soft’. She says: "surfaces
form the point of interaction between the interior and the individual.
By combining unexpected materials and placing them in a new context,
we stimulate the sense, question the familiar and re-evaluate our
preconceptions."
Julie produced a range of interlocking tiles (for floors, ceilings
or walls) featuring bold graphic patterns using coloured flock on
concrete. The judges enjoyed the sense of playfulness and careful
attention to detail in Julie’s work. |
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