Edinburgh College of Art 2020 Graduate Show

I was delighted to be asked to respond to Edinburgh College of Art’s 2020 Graduate Show. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, it is taking place on-line this year. The students and their teachers have made the switch from physical to digital brilliantly. I found the experience of ‘visiting’ the exhibition surprisingly pleasurable.

Jess Hume, Squishy Pointy Cosmic Detritus, 2020 (detail), tulle and neon acrylic
part of Edinburgh College of Art’s 2020 Graduate Show, (c) The Artist

I was particularly taken with the work of Jess Hume (Sculpture – BA Hons). Against all lockdown odds, her three-dimensional kinetic installations are very effective on screen. A range of colours, materials, scale and lighting are combined with movement, a variety of display approaches, child-like wonder and mature contemplation. You can read my response to her presentation here and see more of Hume’s work on her website.

Hume has won a Royal Scottish Academy New Contemporaries Award for her degree show. Hopefully this will result in her being able to realise her installation in real-life. I look forward to being able to compare it to the impressive digital version.

If you’re interested in emerging Scottish artists, you might like my feature about Glasgow School of Art’s 2020 Graduate Showcase as well.