Young people are trying to say something… Let’s listen to them by Maria Iotova

What I marked on this week’s calendar is of special interest because it is directly involving “fresh creators”, and why not some of tomorrow’s big names. City College Brighton and Hove’s Art & Design End of Year Show is presenting the final projects from over 300 graduates of fine art, photography, fashion, graphics and design.

To be honest, I am not sure if I would have found out what is going on in York and Trafalgar buildings, if my housemate was not one of the students whose work is exposed. Following her progress step by step; since the first idea was conceived, and then watching its development until it became a complete piece of – to my eyes – art, I couldn’t miss the final reward of the whole effort. Tomoe, had sleepless nights, when she was probably struggling to “discover” the right colour, and was agonising over the technique but, she never doubted the result.

The exhibition was professionally organised within three levels. The ground floor hosts photography, interior design and fine art. The first floor is occupied by fashion and cinema, and the second floor is dedicated to graphics and illustration.

The internationality of the college along with the age and sex variety, bring to the surface inspirations from so many different backgrounds. However, I noticed a common field: lack of luminosity. I got the feeling that the imagination is restricted by vapidity and repetitiveness; that young people see the world rather black or white. I would have expected more diligent reaction to the external “bangs”.

This exhibition was a chance for the adults to see the world through the eyes of “their children”, and reconsider what they have done wrong, and what they will leave behind to the following generations. Art, good or bad, is not genuine; it is born within a context: social, psychological, historical, political etc.