Glyndŵr students showcase their artwork in unique online exhibition

Sheds, garages and spare rooms across the region are set to become temporary art galleries thanks to the unique idea of a Wrexham Glyndŵr University lecturer and his students.

Students on the MFA/BA (Hons) Fine Art programme are organising the ANTI-SHOW after the annual Degree Show at the Regent Street campus was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A total of 21 students are taking part in the unique event, where they will curate their degree artwork in their own homes, gardens, sheds and garages.

The ANTI-SHOW is thought to be the only exhibition of its type by a UK university.

Lecturer Paul Jones said: “It’s so important for fine art students to have an end of year show – it’s something that they really look forward to; it’s the thing that they have been building up.

“We didn’t want this to fizzle out at the end – we wants to keep that momentum up, we wanted to keep them on board.”

Paul was inspired to challenge the students to exhibit in their homes after reading a book on AptArt, a movement in 1980s Russia where artists set up their work in apartments and invited people to view.

“When we put it to the students they were really enthusiastic about it, and that’s where all the more adventurous ideas started to develop.”

Paul said that the students are eagerly engaging with the process of creating the ANTI-SHOW, thinking of the idea to show their work on Instagram after looking at how art galleries are presenting exhibitions online.

“There was a great word the students kept using: ‘adapt’; they said they had to adapt their art to the situation,” he said.

“That’s something they have really taken on board. They have this plastic mind where if they come against an issue like this they’ll find ways through it to keep making the artwork and keep presenting it to the public.

“We thought it was very astute of them really – they rose to the occasion and said ‘We’ll still have a show but we’re going to have a very unique show this year.”

Anne Hill, one of the students who is exhibiting images at her home, said: “The ANTI-SHOW is such an exciting idea, showcasing our work to a very wide audience, when we thought the opportunity offered by the Degree Show had been lost in these strange times. It has made already creative individuals think even more imaginatively about how to promote and display our work and we have truly pulled together to make this a reality.”

The show will be launched at 6pm on Friday, May 22, and each day will highlight the work of a new student.
Professor Alec Shepley, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology, said: “Although students can’t put their work on their end of year show at our Regent Street campus, the ANTI-SHOW is a wonderful way of combining technology and creativity to highlight the products of their hard work at Glyndŵr to a wide audience.

“The ANTI-SHOW demonstrates the resilience and innovation of our students during a highly challenging time.”
For the latest on the event, follow ANTI-SHOW on Instagram @scafineart #fastantishow.