Exploring Detours and Directions: Visual Arts Artists Forge New Paths
Students and specialist art practitioners took part in a three-day symposium on the future of art and design at the University of East London (UEL) on February 27-29. Organised by Visual Arts Cluster Leader, Dr Keith Winter, it was billed as an opportunity for those present to swap ideas, discuss their artistic practices and to speculate on future tools of the trade.
The event, called Detour Ahead 2024, included talks, panel discussions and a student reflection session. Dr Winter said,
The event was a dialogue between different generations of artists on challenges they face, the tools they need and ways we can improve emerging and established artists’ experiences of the industry. My personal highlight was the presentations by our students showcasing their maturity and readiness to speak about these topics.”
This year’s symposium featured established artists and art industry professionals, such as the art critics known collectively as The White Pube, Whitechapel Gallery curator Katrina Schwarz, and artist and filmmaker Alinka Echevarria. The award-winning author and illustrator, Emma Yarlett, gave a talk on the first day of the symposium. The multi-million-selling writer spoke about her early publishing career, and her experiences working with Netflix. The film version of her book Orion and the Dark was released last month.
Also taking part were photographer Dr Felicity Hammond, the rector of Vienna’s Academy of Fine Arts, Professor Johan Hartle and Philip Serfaty, Director and Founder of Black Tower, which runs exhibitions and events that incorporate live music, performance, film screenings and workshops.
First-year art and design foundation student, Filippo Robaldo, attended several events, relating them to his personal journey as an artist. He said, “Of course, I am just starting my journey and my practice, trying to understand what I want to do. But Detour Ahead really made me think about different ways of using space. These talks really help me establish connections and get inspiration from different artists.”
One of the members of The White Pube, Zarina Muhammad also spoke on the first day. Working alongside Gabrielle de la Puente, she publishes reviews, essays and social media posts challenging the art world’s lack of representation and accessibility. Her talk covered a range of topics, including the practical difficulties of working as an art critic in London and her journey after graduating from university.
Speaking afterwards she said she’d found the event very welcoming, “I even got the chance to have a little snoop around the art studios after the talk. Students have so much space and there is so much going on! I haven’t been in a studio for ages, so it was a lovely little treat for me.”
Graphic design student, Camilla Serrini, said she’d gained a lot from attending, “It is a huge opportunity for students to explore different practices, creatives and practitioners that are in the industry. This year it’s been very inspiring, especially for developing my final year project.”
Detour Ahead has been running every February at UEL for a decade, with the event open not just to artists, critics, and students but to the general public as well. Each year sees new events at the symposium, but the focus is primarily on opening up the mechanics of the visual art world. Organisers say the aim is to provide a space where artists’ professional practice and the varied routes from art school to professional success can be shared with the audience.