12 May 2006

Storing up Art at Degree Show

Toothpicks, pencils and piles of old newspapers combine to offer a fascinating glimpse into the creative processes of a final year art student at this year’s degree show at the University of Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.

The "Manson Ltd Storage Facility" presents a collection of all the things used by 23-year-old fine art student Ewan Manson to generate ideas for his artwork.

Among the 200 plus items included in the facility are shopping lists, trophies won by other people, records, roses and a variety of objects from previous projects.

"It commemorates my time at Dundee," said Ewan, who will be dressed as a security guard as part of his installation during the degree show.

"It includes all the materials I was going to use and represents all my unrealised ideas over the past few years. For example there’s a box of pencils which I had originally planned to sharpen into the profile of my face but which now has a structural form all of its own."

"My work has changed so much over the last few years. In second year I did painting, in third year sculpture and this year it has been installations so it was difficult to pinpoint something that would represent what I do. So I decided on the storage facility."

"It looks at processes and ideas rather than just finalised work and it is very personal. It’s a nice full stop to my time as a student."

Ewan, who worked as an artist assistant to David Mach last summer, added that the installation also aims to mark that transition from student to professional artist, a move emphasised by his decision to turn himself into a business.

"Artists have to be businesses because you are trying to sell yourself and your work," he explained. "It also means I get things a lot quicker if people think I’m a business rather than a student!"

Ewan is hoping to gather together some first hand feedback on his project by acting as security guard to his space full of ideas.

"I’ll be able to hear what people are saying about it which should be quite interesting!" he said.

The degree show opens to the public on Saturday 20 May and runs until Saturday 27 May. It is staged within the DJCAD buildings on the main University of Dundee campus.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Images of Ewan’s work are available from the press office.

For further information contact:

Hilary McNally
Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: 01382 384768
email: h.mcnally@dundee.ac.uk