Changing Rooms with Changing Spaces in the Grafton Centre, Cambridge

As part of their residency within the Grafton Centre, last month, Changing Spaces took over the former H&M shop and issued an open call to students and alumni of Cambridge School of Art to submit a proposal of how they would transform the inside of a fitting room. I was lucky enough to have my proposal chosen!

There were 8 cubicles, the interior of which was designed by 8 different artists. The downstairs of the store was occupied by Blue Contemporary Art Agency, showing chosen works from selected painters. Upstairs was showing film projections, installations and performances by Neuf Film Collective and whole mix of drawings and paintings by various artists. A lot of the work on show had been produced on site, especially for the show, which was open for the public to view as it was in construction, as well as the final, polished exhibition, which was named Mind Your Head.

30 artists were involved in showing their work in total, and it was a really exciting project to be a part of. It was fun working in the space and I got to meet some really interesting people. It was both hectic and thrilling to pull the whole thing together in just a few days, but we did it!

I had spent some time constructing patterns on my computer from reduction lino cuts I had made in the studio. The designs were made to scale then tiled and printed on to A3 sheets. I made my own wheat paste and covered the inside on my fitting room with pattern!

 

Introducing, in order of appearance… 

Philip Cornett       Lorna Collins       Kelcy Davenport            Kavinash Thomoo         

Jane Hellings              Amanda Morgan             Peter Jackson                Katy McDonald

Eight artists, eight rooms. 

Changing Rooms is upstairs, towards the back of the building. Connected by a long passageway, each changing room is confined, segregated and immersed deep within the heart of consumerism. You are invited to explore these individual spaces, meet your own reflection, push your level of visibility, and take control of your narcissistic obsession with the selfie. Will you succumb to being passive recipients of capitalist culture? No matter where you go, your reflection is inescapable.
Prepare to be consumed. 


The cubicle space as somewhere to display work was an unconventional challenge I hadn't experienced before, but it was really interesting to work in such a small space, with mirror fixtures, reflecting the hypnotic designs. It was definitely an opportunity for a selfie of two that I couldn't resist!

It was great to finally see my designs up on walls, as I've wanted to do something like this for a while now. Being within the changing room felt like taking a step inside my brain!