Two students studying at the Ealing Green campus of West London College have been selected by University of the Arts London to exhibit their work at Origins Creatives in London’s Brick Lane from 21 July 2023 to 23 July 2023.
Jack Kennedy, 23, studying Digital Design Level 3.1 and Om Majithia, 19, studying Art and Design Level 2 will have their work shown at the prestigious Origins Creatives exhibition which takes place at the Truman Brewery.
Jack Kennedy’s submission is a poem titled ‘Outsider’ which explores discrimination faced by the Irish Traveller community and told through the medium of luxury boxing gloves.
Jack said: “These gloves provide social commentary on the alarmingly high suicide rates amongst young males in the Irish Traveller community, inspired by an original poem included with the product. The textile design is achieved through a combination of digitalised lino-print and coloured pencil printed onto a vegan leatherette.”
Jack’s poem:
Accelerate.
I can finally breathe.
Monday Morning,
their harsh breaths hitting the cold air.
They look down at their beautiful baby boy, smiling
menacingly. ‘He will grow up to be a strong man.’
Tuesday Morning,
My father’s strong gaze piercing the thick Irish fog.
Atop the strapping stallion,
this is an important family tradition.
Wednesday Morning,
our crystal tears shattering on the sharp grass blades.
‘You’re the man of the house now.’
‘But I’m only 10, Mum.’
Thursday Morning,
her laughter fills the deadly-silent church.
She looks beautiful as she walks the aisle.
It is now my responsibility to protect and provide.
Friday Night,
my breath frantically attacks the cold air and it begs for reprieve and
sweat coats the steering wheel and my grip loosens and-
Looking off of the shrouded cliffs, unsure of what comes next, I
Accelerate.
Om Majithia’s submission, is a helmet titled ‘Frujion II’ which was inspired by ceremonial helmets and designed to demonstrate an angry facial expression.
It was created from fruits and vegetables of various sizes. Each piece was individually handcrafted by Om from a skeletal structure constructed from recycled cardboard. He covered the cardboard models with clay and painted them with acrylics. Influenced by Darth Maul, African tribal masks and the Men-Yoroi of Japanese samurai, this ornate artwork is a recreation of Om’s samurai character design, who would have worn a steel version to intimidate his opponents.
Om said: “Whilst this helmet was constructed to perfect my understanding of colour theory and because of my passion for creating 3D models, I actually created this to represent global warming. I wanted to metaphorically portray the angered expression as the greenhouse gas effects that have been sharply increasing from the transportation of the non-indigenous fruits and vegetables to the UK that arrive from around the world.”
Lorna Acikalin, West London College programme lead digital and creative said: “West London College is thrilled that two of our students have been selected to exhibit their work at UAL’s Origins Creatives from over 400 submissions nationally.”
Exhibition opening times:
21 July 2023, 10.30 – 5pm
22 July 2023, 10.30am – 5pm
23 July2023, 11am – 3pm
Address: G4 + G5, The Truman Brewery, Ely’s Yard, Shoreditch, E1 6QP
Tickets can be pre-booked by clicking here
