The Changing Perception of Images: Wellcome Window Commission

In autumn 2012 CCW Graduate School, in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust, launched a new platform of collaboration and practice at the meeting point of art, design and science, The Changing Perception of Images. Inspired by the Trust’s funded research into areas including neuroscience and memory, the project was initiated and curated by Sigune Hamann as an opportunity for CCW students from all levels and disciplines to explore the changing ways in which images are perceived.

Students were invited to submit installation proposals for the two 11 metre long windows at the Wellcome Headquarters that function as Wellcome Collection's 'third space', an extension of the innovative displays found in its galleries. The installations reflect the Collection's enquiring approach by provoking fresh thinking on aspects of image perception to engage passers-by on the busy Euston Road at day and night with an element of change over the year.

Students from courses of Curating, Drawing, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Graphic Design Communication, Interior and Spatial Design, Photography, Print and Time-based Media and Sculpture engaged with The changing perception of images drawing on wide ranging expertise at the University and from curators, scientists and archivists at the Trust.

The selection panels at the University, which included Jordan Baseman and David Cross, and the panel members from the Wellcome Trust, were impressed with the range of ideas presented and the inventive responses to a challenging brief. From 48 proposals, four projects were chosen to be developed for presentation to the Wellcome Trust: a photographic narrative of figures'? in a concertina fold by Phoebe Ardent (BA Graphic Design CCC), large pixilated eyes in slow movement by Peter Hudson (BA Graphic Design CCC), a continuous line of irregularly angled mirrors by Jamie Simon (MA Graphic Design CCA) and an installation encouraging passers-by to call in and listen to a voice describing images from the collections by Lillian Wilkie (MA Fine Arts CCA). The Wellcome Trust launched the winning designs by Camberwell College of Arts students: Phoebe Argent's installation View was installed in July 2013 and will be on show until July 2014 when it will be replaced by Peter Hudson's 12 month installation Eye-contact.

The installations act as a showcase for students' creativity and new approaches to image research at CCW. The award highlights ongoing multi-disciplinary collaborations at the Graduate School which promotes exchange between art, design and science to develop new methods and thinking.

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