Aspex is a gallery located in Gunwharf Quays that aims to support emerging artists by offering them a platform from which to launch their career.
On my visit in October I got to see the Platform Graduate award exhibition. This exhibition was a collection of work from thirteen graduates chosen from across six universities: Arts University Bournemouth, University of Chichester, Southampton Solent University, University of the Creative Arts Farnham, University of Portsmouth and Winchester School of Arts.
Jaz Bartlett is a multidisciplinary artist who is interested in the ideas surrounding consumerist culture and how, as a society, we have developed a need to indulge through excess.
Jaz uses fast food as a symbol for conveying these ideas of consumerism. Her piece 'Fast Food Vegas' specifically uses broken signs and clever word-play that makes you question the morals of fast food.
I found Rebecca Harte's untitled piece to be the most intriguing. I was an interactive piece where you could sit at the table and untangle a mess of threads. As you sit, you listen to a recording of someone reading a story quoted from directly from Rebecca's grandmother. At first this seemed like a strange concept but after participating you realise that it creates a very reflective and calming space.
Imogen Marooney also created an interactive piece, hers titled 'For You'. At this table you could sit and create a paper object in what ever manner you wished. The paper from which you make your object is scrap paper, screen-printed with images of objects made previously by other people. This creates a cycle of the work being ever recycled into itself which I found to be a fascinating concept.
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