Show @ RCA

I went to the end-of-year student show at the RCA last week.

I was immediately annoyed by the huge signs everywhere saying I couldn't take a photograph. How are people expected to see the students' work without that?

However, I liked a lot of what I saw, and happily some of it is online (but also some of it is not - what is this, 1992?).

So, big likes to:

Anne-Kathrin Schuhmann's night-time convenience stores (reminded me of these)

Henrik Potter's painted medals.

Wieland Payer's weird fairy tale landscapes

Fay Nicolson's wavy colourful geometrics

Julie Legault's big gemstone metal USB stick necklace

Ashley Rich's parallel lines

Victoria Campbell's slinky shimmery gowns

Darren Donati's monochrome mugs

Joseph Pochodzaj's sloganeering poster project

Yoo Kyung Shin's windswept metallic lamp

Benjamin Parton's clever use of paper - masking tape to make streetscenes for kids to make cities out of cardboard boxes and other used things like yoghurt lids for satellite dishes. And these doodle-in-the-picture picture frames.

(pic from Vintage Collective)

Joseph Pochodzaj

RCA Work in Progress exhibition

I've been to see the Royal College of Art's Work in Progress exhibition, which shows student work in photography, metalwork, silver, jewellery and fashion.

I loved the exhibition last year, so was very much looking forward to it. This year's exhibition seemed to be smaller, but included many interesting sketches, images and ideas taking shape.

It was really cool to see fashion prototypes which in years to come would become wearable, high street items but for now are exciting concepts.

Three of my favourites were:

Lee Simmon's semi-circular wood-cuts

Catherine Aitken's organically patterned textile designs

Agata Madejska's sparse, sleek architectural photography

The exhibition continues until 22 January.

Sketching out

I went to see a student Work-in-Progress show today at the Royal College of Art. I loved it, seeing the many ways the students research and develop their work.

The exhibition featured fashion, textiles, metalwork and photography students. 

My favourites were:

• Thomas Adank - whose website I think this is - had bold, pastel colours in simple brown frames. It appears to be a big block of colour, until you go closer and realise the colour you're looking atis an expanse of Lenor fabric softener.
  
  
• Melanie Rozencwajg's beautiful images show people in Liverpool Street & Euston stations. She removes the clutter, shops, floors, and everything around to leave just the people in small scale, almost pattern-like.
  
  
• Frederico Camara's research on maps and Brazilian immigration in the UK, though in early stages, seemed interesting.
  
  
• Luke Trybula's textiles were very attractive
  
  
• Keith Barry's textile research was particularly impressive, with intricate patterns and detailing.

Sadly, I can't show any images as photography was prohibited, and I can't find any on the web.

Here are some sketches I did: