A terrific visit to the department today by artist ‘Alison Harper’ @aliceundo
Talking about recycling and the re-use of materials often considered waste or for ‘one use’. Great to hear about her artwork and PhD research in this area. With examples of wide ranging practice showing how you can reconsider materials by cutting down paper cups or making twine from plastic bags and crisp packets from which you can then knit functional or aesthetically exciting new forms. ‘Book of lost knowledge’ - a miniature book made solely from the paper salvaged from a one-use paper coffee cup.
Inspiring and really interesting to hear about slow working and being close to materials as you manipulate and adapt this discarded paper and plastic and the hidden potential. Then the students from the Art Foundation and UAL level 3 Diploma worked with Alison and the art staff on a series of hands-on creative workshops during which we pulped and blended paper cups to make new hand-made paper and cut up paper cups to make twines and sculptural forms. A really inspiring morning and a great way to introduce the new pop-up sustainability shop assignment that will be the focus of the department for these students for the two weeks after half term.
