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Mary Wood,
Unstable Self,
compressed
charcoal
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SHOW & TELL
MARY WOOD, BA FINE ART, UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
How would you describe your work
Drawing is central to my art practice. Throughout
the degree course I have experimented by making drawings that
are mediated by my senses; this work has led me to question
the definition and possibilities for drawing itself. As my line of
enquiry relates to process I prefer to use simple drawing materials
– cartridge paper, charcoal, biro and felt-tip pens.
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in the public realm. “There is a certain reticence amongst a
number of emerging artists to work outside the gallery, or to
contemplate working in different ways and looking at different
approaches to engaging with an audience,” she says.
Through initiatives like its recently launched Public Art Now
events and New Situationists commissions for emerging artists,
Situations is attempting to dispel myths around working in the
public realm and encourage more artists to work in this area.
Doherty’s experience, however, suggests that a lot of students
may have other things on their minds.
“The presentation mode of many degree shows falls into the
art fair model; there’s a lot of pressure on young artists to be
seen and heard by the market as one route to success. But I’m
most interested in artists who are thinking about how their
work might unfold beyond the marketable object – about how
they begin a conversation between their peers, their work and
their audience.”
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Alex Hartley, Nowhereisland, 2012.
Photo: Max McClure, maxmcclure.com
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Claire Doherty
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Futurefarmers, Flatbread Society, 2013.
Produced by Situations for Slow Space
Bjorvika, Oslo
How has your work developed in your final year
I began this year by making a series of self-portraits informed
by my perceptions; this led to an exploration of my movements
within a domestic space. Currently I am developing a more
conceptual body of work that investigates the drawing process and
alludes to structures, boundaries, absence and space.
What are you doing for your degree show
I believe that making work specifically for the degree show is a
constraint that would inhibit the development of my thinking. I
draw on a daily basis and as a result have built up a large body of
work during the last year. For the degree show I plan to critically
review my work and choose a group of strong drawings
that demonstrate my conceptual ideas.
What would you like your degree show to achieve
I hope that the degree show will give me the chance to build
up a network of contacts and look for opportunities at the start of
my career. I’m also building an online presence as I think this
is important.
Do you hope to sell any of your work and are sales important
to you at this stage
I’m not interested in selling my work at this stage.
Are you nervous
I react well to deadlines – the degree show therefore provides an
exciting challenge. I’m well up for it!
Have you shown your work in public before, outside of an art
school context
I’ve already shown my work at two contemporary art venues in
Nottingham: the Surface Gallery and Carnival of Monsters. I learnt
a lot about exhibiting from taking part in these shows.
What’s next after graduation
I’m currently looking for opportunities following graduation. I’d like
to get a studio and apply for a residency.
BA Fine Art degree show, 25 June–6 July, Djanogly Gallery,
Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park, Nottingham.
Mary Wood is an a-n student blogger
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