Student exhibition explores everyday forgotten spaces

25 January 2017

‘Remnants’ Hanover Project exhibition opens to public

An exhibition has opened at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) that explores traces left behind as evidence of history, memory and previous existence and presence.

‘Remnants’ is the latest student exhibition to take place in the Hanover Gallery and emphasises the way in which every day spaces are used, often overlooked and sometimes forgotten or abandoned.  It will run until the 14 February and is open to the public Monday – Friday, 10.00am – 4.00pm.

The Hanover Project is a newly built gallery and project space at the entrance of the fine art building at UCLan, which hosts four student exhibitions and four external exhibitions of nationally and internationally renowned artists each academic year. This gives current and previous students the chance to showcase their work and get involved with the running of the gallery space. For Remnants the task of curatorship was given to Hollie Donnelly, a third year student on the fine art course who is also the gallery’s student intern.

"Remnants is the first exhibition I have independently curated myself, so it's been a very exciting and insightful experience from start to finish."

Hollie said: “Remnants is the first exhibition I have independently curated myself, so it's been a very exciting and insightful experience from start to finish. From firstly selecting the seven artists myself, organising and arranging the positioning of the works and see it gradually unfold during installation week to come together the way it has is incredible.”

The essence of the gallery allows students to experience not only what it is like to select pieces of work to be shown to the public, but also gives them the chance to have an insight into what can be achieved after leaving UCLan.

Fine art lecturer David Mackintosh  is responsible for the running of the project and commented on the impact the gallery has and how it can benefit current students and graduates.  He said: “The activity of the gallery provides collaborative opportunities for staff and live project learning experience for students. We are also particularly committed to developing the profile of alumni of the fine art course.”

"The activity of the gallery provides collaborative opportunities for staff and live project learning experience for students. We are also particularly committed to developing the profile of alumni of the fine art course."

When hosting exhibitions and during final year degree shows, the gallery attracts visitors and talent scouts from the creative industries along with art organisations and galleries in the North West and London. The host of exhibitions shown by the Hanover Project brings internationally renowned professional artists, curators and academics to UCLan to participate in exhibitions, conferences, talks and publications, raising the profile of the fine art course. The Hanover Project has a growing reputation as an interesting contemporary art space in the North West, reflecting positively on the school of Art, Design and Fashion and its research culture.

The current show Remnants runs until 14 February with a chance for visitors to meet the artists at the exhibition on 9 February, 5.00pm – 7.00pm.

Artists included in the show are; Laura Brady, Ella Breese, Benjamin Davies, Tina Dempsey, Tom Harforth, Jenny Steele and Beata Wrobel.