Manchester School of Art explores food waste, ritual jewellery, cost of living, and autism in the digital age

The latest wave of incredible talent from the Manchester School of Art showcases a plethora of incredible works in the 2023 degree show.

Running until Wed 21 Jun, the exceptional collection spans everything from food waste ceramics, Irish ritual jewellery, 3D cost of living illustrations and textiles about autism in the digital age.

Next Message celebrates the incredible work and achievements of the Class of 2023 in an exhibition taking place across the University’s Benzie building, Chatham building, and the School of Digital Arts (SODA).

The exhibition, which usually attracts around 6,000 visitors, presents work from more than 500 graduating students from 17 courses and includes everything from fine art to filmmaking, textiles to photography, and animation to sculpture. 

A digital showcase complements the physical exhibition and features profiles and work from students across all Manchester School of Art courses.

Highlights of the exhibition include BA (Hons) Textiles in Practice student Lilly Frances Beards’ body of work Unmask, Decrypt, which draws on the historical connections between weaving and coding and combines textiles with digital technology and coding to talk about autistic experience in a digital age. 

Also on display is work from BA (Hons) Product Design and Craft student Niamh Grimes, whose intricate jewellery designs explore her Irish heritage and utilise metal casting to reimagine the stories and Irish folk customs of the past.

BA (Hons) Graphic Design student Lisa Cachapela da Silva’s work Broke Breakout explores the lowest vs highest earners hierarchy within the cost of living crisis.

Elsewhere, fellow BA (Hons) Product and Craft student Martha Wiles’ ceramic trophies celebrate organisations that work to reduce, educate, and empower communities to fight against food waste – taking inspiration from her work with local urban farming collective Manchester Urban Diggers, Milk and Honey Café, and food charity Peacemeal.

Professor Martyn Evans, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities said: “Without doubt, the School of Art degree show is my favourite time of the year in the university calendar. Over the last few weeks I have seen the energy, commitment and out and out passion of our students and staff come to fruition in what is an incredible festival of creativity. 

“I first attended the degree show in Manchester School of Art in 1997 and it still fills me with the same excitement, and now pride, it always has. Congratulations Class of 2023, you have done yourselves proud!”