Whilst the annual Foundation Art and Design Diploma exhibition sadly wont now open this March we can still catch up with student Alana Redmond to find out more about her work, the course and future plans.
Q: What inspired you to sign up to the City Lit Foundation art and design diploma?
A: I have always been fascinated by art and when I heard about City Lit I signed up for short courses in printmaking and drawing. These classes gave me the confidence and the tools to apply for the foundation course.
Q: What was your background prior to signing up to your course at City Lit?
A: I moved to the UK in 2010 to train as a primary school teacher and it became my second home. Before the course, I was the Assistant Head of an Islington school.
Q: Have you always had a passion for art and design, or is it something that has developed more recently?
A: I have always loved drawing and it was one of my biggest regrets that I didn’t choose to study art. The foundation course allowed me to start to rectify that and to explore the different areas of art and design. I have developed a particular interest in printmaking and textiles.
Q: Can you tell us a little more about your final project and the influences behind it?
A: For my final project I am exploring the theme of displacement. As a voluntary emigrant this is something that I have personal experience of and living in London it is very much a shared experience. I have selected the Barbican as a source for investigating this theme because it is built on a site of displacement and it continues to disrupt. I have noticed that city walkers tend to circle its imposing walls rather than using the high walks for more direct and attractive routes. I am fascinated by the architects’ utopian vision, the symbols hidden in the architecture and the textures they have achieved with concrete. I am using weaving, mono-printing and etching to explore how material processes in print and textiles be used to displace and disrupt. So far, I have found etching on paper weaves and printing using woven plates particularly effective. I am inspired by Dóra Maurer (Hungarian visual artist) and Do Ho Suh (Korean sculptor and installation artist), who use print and textiles respectively to investigate this theme. My approach to this project is influenced by Maurer’s process-led work.
Q: How has the course transformed your approach to your work? Has it helped you with mapping out your future goals in any way?
A: Taking this course has taught me a lot about how I like to work. I have realised that I come to ideas through making e.g. sketchbook experiments, creating fabric samples and overprinting. I have learned to develop and push my ideas which has had a positive impact on my work. The written assignments helped me to reflect on my work and plan I would like to do next. I have also found that the tutors are very supportive and knowledgeable about the progression routes after Foundation. I am applying for Masters level courses because I think I will benefit greatly from a year of intensive exploration of my practice. This will help me to launch my career as an artist.
Q: What’s the dynamic like on the course?
A: There is a supportive atmosphere on the course where people encourage each other and share ideas. It is inspiring to study with a group of people from different backgrounds and with different interests. It is fascinating spending time with other students in the workshops and seeing their explorations of media which I haven’t worked with before.
Q: What’s the best thing about studying at City Lit?
A: The opportunity to explore so many different disciplines with inspiring and talented tutors. In my print and textiles specialisms, I have always been encouraged to push the limits and find a way to achieve a desired effect or outcome. The tutors and technicians relish a technical challenge and this creates an exciting atmosphere in which to experiment and learn.
Alana's instagram: @rougedomhan
