Relations and Reflections

About

In January this year Newcastle College second year Fine Art degree students were given the opportunity of working with Vane on an online exhibition of their work. At a time when our loved ones have become all the more precious, the students were asked to respond to the idea of ‘family’ which has resulted in the exhibition ‘Relations and Reflections’.

Family is very much at the forefront of a lot of people’s lives at the moment. What does ‘family’ mean? The term doesn’t necessarily refer to the biological: mother, father, siblings, etc. Friends or even pets can be more of a family to some people than their own relatives. It can be a support network, a source of comfort and a safe haven, but it can also be focus for friction and resentments – sometimes deep and long-lasting.

These works, made at home during the most recent national lockdown, highlight the students’ profound talent and inspirational resilience. This is a heartfelt and thought-provoking exhibition which represents the essence of family in the broadest of terms. At this time a celebration of this most human of phenomena feels especially poignant.

A special thanks must go to featured artist and exhibition coordinator Wade Forster for her dedicated leadership. For more information about the Newcastle College course go to ncl-coll.ac.uk and Instagram @fineart_ncuc