London exhibition for Derry student’s fashion pieces

A Derry student has recently been featured in an external exhibition in London.

The exhibition showcased art pieces across closed shop fronts during the pandemic as part of making up for cancelled degree shows in UAL Wimbledon College of Arts.

Derry student Ciara Foord’s theatre costume pieces were featured in the exhibition, in the One New Change shopping centre opposite St Paul’s Cathedral.

Said Ciara: “I was really proud to have my work on display. We all worked so hard this year despite the struggles we faced with the pandemic.

“We did not have access to facilities and had to work from home until the final term. The exhibition was a great celebration of what we have achieved and it was really lovely to see the public’s reactions to our work.”

The exhibition made use of the various empty spaces created in the centre of London due to the pandemic.

Ciara said: “The exhibition was based in various empty shop windows around central London as obviously a lot of shops closed down during the pandemic.

“My costume for Titania in Midsummer Night’s Dream was featured in a closed down shop window in One New Change shopping centre.

“The other locations include Cannon Place, Buckingham Gate, Victoria Street, Leadenhall Market, Victoria Place, Zig Zag Building and Strand Palace Hotel.

“I also have illustrations featured in The Strand Palace Hotel.”

Many graduates this year lost out on their degree exhibitions and shows and Ciarfa was part of this group.

Wimbledon College of Arts used these external spaces to allow their graduate students a distanced public exhibition, with pieces featured across London.

Students and members of the public could go a see their pieces while keeping to COVID restrictions.

For Ciara, the exhibition was a culmination of the efforts put in throughout her degree.

She said: “I started research for my projects last September and had spent my time until June designing, sampling, dyeing, embroidering, sewing and even some welding to create my final costume and designs.

“A huge amount of thought has went into every single detail of my costume. My ultimate goal would be to get a job working in costume for Film or TV.

“I think this exhibition has helped to put my work out there into the world and hopefully some good things will come from that.

“It has also given me confidence in my own skills and what I can create,” added Ciara.

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