HIDDEN was an exhibition of work by technical staff at the Royal College of Art. The exhibition ran from the 10th – 17th March 2017 in the Dyson Gallery, Battersea. Organised, designed and curated by Ailsa Sinclair, HIDDEN was a highlight of the Royal College of Art’s annual calendar of events.
The technicians have a wealth of knowledge and are a hidden talent at the RCA and this was a celebration of some of their most innovative creative work. The week-long exhibition showcased the work from over 50 technicians across the College, including an exciting mix of jewellery and textile design, painting and sculptures, as well as handmade bespoke cars and interactive virtual reality work.
HIDDEN showcased many well-known designers and artists including Natacha Marro, a world-renowned shoe designer. Celebrated for wild and visually striking Bubble Shoes, Marro has worked with clients such as David Bowie, Grayson Perry, Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani and Olivia Newton-John.
Finnish textile designer Jonna Saarinen graduated from the RCA in 2011 and works as a printed textile technician in the Textiles department at the College. Within her personal practice Saarinen specialises in screen-printed textiles and brightly coloured kitchenware. Her beautifully handcrafted work explores the natural beauty of Nordic nature and the nostalgia of growing up on the Finnish Archipelago. Saarinen has worked with a number of household names including The Guardian, Thorsten van Elten, Etsy, Nokia and Oilily. Recently her stunningly renovated home was featured in the Observer, Mollie Makes and the South London Journal. Saarinen will be showcasing some exciting new work, including large-scale prints and drawings.
Simon Ward, a photography technician at the College, is also showing some new large-scale print work. Ward graduated from the RCA in 2007 and went on to win the Man Photography Prize in 2009. His huge and vividly explicit Still Life series of dead animals demands instant attention. These high impact images are at bed scans of the animals, so sharp that every hair, whisker and skin texture are left pulsating with life. Ward’s beautiful and memorable series of prints are displayed in unusual spaces around the gallery adding to the joy of stumbling upon such vivid images.
Ian Whittaker, a senior technician in Metalwork, will be showcasing his impressive range of meticulously handcrafted full-scale cars. Whittaker has been building his own cars and scooters since the age of 17 and gained an MA in Design Futures at Goldsmiths University before moving to the RCA. HIDDEN was a unique opportunity to see the range of work produced by the talented technical staff that are the backbone and support for many of the students at the RCA.