UCA Farnham BA (Hons) Fine Art students across all three years, worked collaboratively over the last week to develop their own alternative university. The 1 week university named the "Institute of Last Lost" had 12 departments exploring different ideas in response to current affairs and critical theory. Departments explored responses to current polemical issues such as; the Anthropocene, late global Capitalism, Neo Liberalism, the refugee crisis, Nationalism amongst others. The week was contextualised by references to Foucault's "The Archaeology of Knowledge", Zizek's "Living in the End Times", Virilio's "HyperModernism" and Ranciere's "The Ignorant School Master".
UCA Farnham Fine Art student Pippa Ward, who is currently studying in her 2nd year recently exhibited her sculpture "Sphere" in the exhibition CONSUME in the Elaine Thomas Gallery. Pippa's boldly coloured and striking sculpture was made out of plastic bags that are used from shopping taken from a 3 week period from one household to raise awareness of the use of plastic and it's environmental impact. Over the Christmas academic break Pippa took the sculpture to Oxford Circus and rolled the sculpture up an down the Oxford Street to test her practice and site her work within a more expanded and relational context. The obvious playful attraction of the object is part of the lure to spread a her socially engaged message. See the link to a film of Pippa's performance below. Pippa is currently developing this work in collaboration with a number of educational, environmental and arts organisations. http://vimeo.com/116206307
