This is a task allocated to the year one students at the beginning of November. Each student was asked to produce an image, or a series of images, which relates to the theme ‘Life'. The task had no set criteria, it was not graded, not directed to any great degree, and was open to the students interpretation of what the term or the theme ‘Life' encapsulates. A discussion about the possibilities of how to conceptualize the theme, plus a few suggestions of approachesto take, artists and photographers to look at, were the only imput from the tutor.
The theme itself is wide open: 'Life' is everywhere, and everything is life. The term could suggest both negative and positive connotations. It could relate to society or the inner world. It could signify natural biological cycles or the great wrestle of life. There is a necessity, however, for each student to justify their image as it relates to a particular aspect of the theme. The images needed to translate an aspect of life - to be, somehow, 'meaningful' and to form the basis of discussion about our personal, social experiences and how we use photography to express something about what we see and feel.
The work was selected by a ‘jury’ of 2nd year students who made choices of the work on two levels – firstly on aesthetic merits, secondly the work which, for them, best connects to the theme. Presented here is a selection of the jury’s favourites.
- Martin Cregg, 1st Year Tutor
