Networking City: SHOW RCA 2013

Image1. The entrance of the exhibition (The image is taken by Networking City)

The architecture students’ works of Royal College of Art revealed at their annual exhibition ‘Show RCA 2013’ from June 20 to June 30. Except fashion design which already opened its show on May 29, there are two exhibition areas where are Kensington and Battersea for 10 departments of RCA. The department of Architecture has its own exhibition place in Battersea with Applied art, Fine art, Photography and so on.

The exhibition place looked an old warehouse, therefore, the weird tension between rough feeling of the old building and innovative works of the students generates a marvelous atmosphere.

Image 2. The exhibition place of RCA (The image is taken by Networking City)

As I looked around six studios’ works, it was coming to me that the works of RCA students are pushing beyond the realm of architecture with the imaginary and creativeness of the students rather than being sustained in it. Some students show very architectural drawings, some works might suit to consider as fine art or sculpture, and it would be possible to meet some works at the exhibition of video art.

Image 3. The exhibition place of RCA (The image is taken by Networking City)

Image 4. The exhibition place of RCA (The image is taken by Networking City)

Image 5. The exhibition place of RCA (The image is taken by Networking City)

Image 6. The exhibition place of RCA (The image is taken by Networking City)

Like the exhibition of The Bartlett which this blog introduced before, (http://networkingcity.blogspot.kr/2013/06/bartlett-summer-show-2013.html )

this exhibition gave an opportunity to clearly understand that architectural thoughts can be shown with multiple media including videos, 3d displays and installations which were set up in the exhibition place as the works and rooms for watching videos.

Image 7. The exhibition place of RCA (The image is taken by Networking City)

Image 8. The exhibition place of RCA (The image is taken by Networking City)

Image 9. The exhibition place of RCA (The image is taken by Networking City)

Image 10. The exhibition place of RCA (The image is taken by Networking City)

Image 11. The exhibition place of RCA (The image is taken by Networking City)

Image 12. The exhibition place of RCA (The image is taken by Networking City)

Alexander Turner (http://alexander-r-a-turner.tumblr.com ) suggests the simple and strong ‘wall’ for East Sussex against indiscreet urban sprawl. This plan of housing and public space for 2000 inhabitants, which might fall under the influence of Dogma (http://www.dogma.name/index.html ), is outstanding among many works.

Image 13. The work of Alexander Turner (The image is taken by Networking City)

Environmental issue is spotlighted here again. One student provides an interesting idea to purify air pollution of London by transforming BT tower into a filtering facility in the worst polluted area in London. This work was introduced on Dezeen last week and has been paid attention from international readers. http://www.dezeen.com/2013/06/24/synthetechecology-by-chang-yeob-lee/

Image 14. The work of Changyeob Lee (The image is taken by Networking City)

In fact, it was more impressive when we visited other exhibition areas after the department of architecture. The quality level of the works of fine art, photography and sculpture students is easily over the normal level of masters’ students, therefore, it would not be strange if we meet these works at museums in London with professional artworks. In addition, buildings and working facilities for students look very nice to do something creative.

Image 15. The exhibition of Applied Art (The image is taken by Networking City)

Image 16. The exhibition of Sculpture (The image is taken by Networking City)

Image 17. The exhibition of Fine art (The image is taken by Networking City)

Echo Morgan’s works (http://echomorgan.com/ ), which were displayed in the area of printmaking, are distinctive to provide multiple and complex faces that can be variously interpreted. She intended to show the vital force of vulnerable human body when a fragile woman’s body is accompanied with brutal metal balls. Furthermore, the photo, which captured the scene of a tree with the same metal balls in ruined industrial landscape, is planned to illustrate the vulnerability and vitality of nature as well as the coupling of the human body and nature. When it comes to me, the metal balls, which were firstly close to the sight, underline the human body and the ruined landscape, which are actually the background of the photos, therefore, the tension between figure and background creates the enormous power for being these photos lively.