Art Trips
As inspiration for their work, Sixth Form Art students have ventured to London’s galleries and an artist’s studio this term.
To enrich their studies, our A Level Art artists have been to the Barbican Centre, Tate Britain and had the rare privilege of visiting the studio of South Korean artist, Do Ho Suh.
One of our Sixth Form Art Scholars, Nancy, reports back on the exhibitions:
‘The Barbican’s Dirty Looks exhibition challenges conventional ideas of beauty in fashion by celebrating imperfection, encouraging viewers to see decay and disruption as expressive rather than undesirable. It felt experimental and provocative, pushing fashion beyond surface-level aesthetics and making us think about how process, material, and concept can communicate meaning in visual work. Tate Britain’s Lee Miller exhibition presented a powerful overview of her career, from fashion photography to her documentation of the Second World War. Her images showed how photography can move between glamour and horror, often within the same frame. The exhibition was particularly striking in how it demonstrated the emotional and narrative power of images, proving that photography can be both visually compelling and deeply human.’
Minna and Izzy write about the memorable experience of meeting Do Ho Suh in his personal work space:
‘We were incredibly fortunate to be guided through the studio by the artist himself. The visit began in his personal creation space, where we were able to see a range of works currently in progress. Seeing unfinished pieces and works mid-development gave a real insight into his creative process and how ideas evolve over time.
We then moved into the project management room, which revealed a completely different side of artistic practice. This space contained detailed 3D models of future exhibitions, allowing us to understand how his installations are carefully planned and mapped out. Listening to his senior project manager was particularly eye-opening; we learned that some exhibitions take up to five years to plan and involve complex logistics, including transporting works across the world. This highlighted how much organisation and collaboration sit behind the artworks we eventually see in galleries.
As we moved through the studio, works from earlier projects were displayed around the space, helping to connect his past work with what he is creating now. It was fascinating to realise just how many people are involved in running a studio like this. The scale of teamwork, from designers to project managers and fabricators, was far greater than we had imagined. One of the most interesting aspects of the visit was seeing how miniature exhibition models are used to plan how work will exist in a space. It was especially engaging to hear Do Ho Suh speak about his ideas, particularly his belief that materials and objects carry energy through our interactions with them. This concept felt very personal and meaningful, especially in relation to his upcoming projects.
Overall, the visit was both inspiring and informative. Seeing so many different skills, perspectives, and specialisms come together to support one artist’s vision gave us a much deeper understanding of contemporary art practice and the collaborative effort behind large-scale work.’
We are very grateful to both Do Ho and Rebecca Boyle Suh for inviting us to the studios.