Students explore the ‘monumental’ in new exhibition
Student-curated exhibition brings new artistic responses to NGCA’s collection, exploring what ‘the monumental’ means in contemporary culture
A new exhibition created and curated by University of Sunderland fine art students has opened at Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA), bringing fresh perspectives to some of the gallery’s most significant works.
Monumental pairs selected pieces from the NGCA collection with new works by seven second and third-year students, who have spent the last six months examining what ‘the monumental’ means in contemporary art and wider society.
Their chosen works span public sculptural forms, vast natural landscapes, political systems and industrial heritage - from melting Icelandic glaciers and desert terrains to state structures and the miner’s cage near Easington Colliery.
Featured artists from the NGCA collection include Dan Holdsworth, John Kippin, Chad McCail, Vinca Petersen, Mark Pinder, Kelly Richardson and Daniel Silver. The student artists contributing new works are Bog Balenger, Rupa BK, Steviee Brookes, Lucy-May De Carteret, Kerry Chappell, Megan Hart and Chloeanne Maddison.
Jon Weston, curator of Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, said: “It has been a pleasure to work alongside staff and students at University of Sunderland Fine Art over the last six months to develop the exhibition Monumental.
“NGCA has a strong and diverse collection of contemporary artwork and seeing these artworks examined, challenged and interpreted from the perspective of committed and rising second (now third) year Fine Art students is exactly what the collection is for.
“The students explored what monumental means, both in the production of art and in wider society, this has led to a striking and thought-provoking selection of artworks on display within the exhibition. Expanding on their choices the students are also showing their own artwork offering personal connections and further readings.”
The project has also played a key role in the students’ development, opening up new insights into the curatorial process and the possibilities of working directly with a major contemporary art collection.
Fiona Larkin, Lecturer in Fine Art at University of Sunderland, said: “Engaging with authentic, hands-on approaches to learning, through curating and responding to the NGCA collection, has been enormously beneficial for our Fine Art BA students. Through this experience, they have explored meaningful connections and influences drawn from the artworks within the collection.
“The resulting student works either complement the existing pieces or offer a challenge and provocation, contributing fresh perspectives to the established narrative of the collection.”
Monumental runs at NGCA until February 14. The gallery’s collection, established in 2006, now includes more than 500 artworks by over 50 artists and continues to grow.