<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Kent</strong> / ARTS STUDIO Mercy 2010 HEIDI YSSENNAGGER Heidi Yssennagger completed her Master’s in Fine Art in 2008 and, since then, her work has been exhibited across the UK. Here, she talks about her time studying at <strong>Kent</strong> and how it has changed her life. Why did you choose to study at <strong>Kent</strong>? It was a chance decision really. I had been seriously ill and hospitalised for six months. I needed something to do to keep me occupied while recuperating and a nurse recommended art as a therapy. Initially, I took a foundation course, and loved it so much that I decided to continue on to the HND and then the top-up BA. So what started <strong>of</strong>f as a time-filler led to a degree; something that I would not have contemplated at the beginning. My tutor then advised me to progress onto the MA at <strong>Kent</strong>. Did your Master’s live up to your expectations? I have to say that I had absolutely no preconceptions <strong>of</strong> what the MA course would be like or, indeed, <strong>Kent</strong> as a location for study, I had not spoken to anyone who had previously taken an MA either, so there were no expectations. Indeed, I was the first person in my family to even gain a BA, so this was uncharted territory for me! As it happens, my MA year at <strong>Kent</strong> was exceptional! An incredibly intense year, I had the most wonderful tutors, who were very supportive and yet challenging too. I had a great studio space, where I could concentrate on my work without distractions. 20 The History & Philosophy <strong>of</strong> Art lectures took place on Monday evenings, which was great as they did not eat into my studio time, and I found most <strong>of</strong> them very informative and interesting. They were designed to challenge the students and to move us up to a higher level <strong>of</strong> thinking and reasoning. I particularly loved the way I was encouraged to fully exploit my own unique ideas and areas <strong>of</strong> exploration throughout the course, and was not expected to follow a generic pathway. This ultimately meant that our end-<strong>of</strong>-year exhibition was both diverse and exciting, with an incredible variation <strong>of</strong> works, genres and media. Highlights <strong>of</strong> the course for me were the trip to New York and the visits to London galleries. The tutors expertly explained and debated works with the students, in order to enable us to think about art from many different viewpoints. Do you think your course has changed you? The course gave me the opportunity to mature in my making, thinking and writing, I was able to collate all that I had learnt in my previous years <strong>of</strong> study and to make sense <strong>of</strong> them. In short, I feel that this year made me into an ‘artist’. I gained a lot <strong>of</strong> confidence in myself as an artist, and the determination to continue with my chosen path. The course helped me to have belief in my work and in my own capabilities. Did your course lay the foundations for your current work? I think that if I had not taken my MA, I would possibly have not had the confidence to keep going as an artist. The work that I produced on this course was my ‘master work’ and has been shown nationally over the past two years, making the bulk <strong>of</strong> many exhibitions. My thesis has also been <strong>of</strong> great use and has recently been the basis <strong>of</strong> a course that I have written and am hoping to teach at a higher education college later this year. I don’t really have a ‘typical’ working day. I am in my second year <strong>of</strong> a part-time teaching degree and have a teaching placement one day a week at Ashford School <strong>of</strong> Art and Design, which I am really enjoying. I teach painting privately, take on commissions, work with a charity and show my art at medical conferences. I am also still a practising artist and always have a ‘project’ on the go! How did you enjoy your time at <strong>Kent</strong> in general? I absolutely loved my time at <strong>Kent</strong>, and was sad that it was over so quickly. Unfortunately, I did not have time for a social life, the course was an intense one-year MA, and I am also a mother, so partying had to be put on hold! What advice would you give to graduates thinking <strong>of</strong> coming to <strong>Kent</strong> to study? <strong>Kent</strong> is an exciting and inspirational place to study. I did not regret a single day spent there, and would happily return. I found that the level <strong>of</strong> teaching and support were second to none and would definitely recommend studying at <strong>Kent</strong>.
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