Careers Advisers Canterbury Epsom Farnham Maidstone Rochester UCA Showcase About Us Research Enterprise Business Alumni Services & Depts Home Contact Us Jobs myUCA Sitemap Staff Student Information UCA Email Accessibility Terms & Conditions FOI
RSS
© 2008-2009
Surface Tensions
Surface, finish and the meaning of objects
Convener: Dr Victoria Kelley, Research Coordinator and MA Fashion Theory Tutor, Rochester Campus
Surface Tensions is a newly established research cluster based at Rochester, with the aim of inspiring and drawing together research into the material qualities of designed objects, including fashion and textiles.
Fashion is often analysed in terms of representation – the glossy fashion image – yet garments have an immediate tactile and haptic quality, dependent in part upon surface and finish. Some recent and contemporary fashion designers have exploited the poetic and symbolic meanings of dereliction, fraying, and deconstruction, yet the historical artisanal crafts of the fashion atelier were just as dependent upon pristine and perfect finishing techniques and surface effects.
These issues, while central to the analysis of fashion, are also able to cross subject boundaries and embrace related disciplines in design, applied arts and craft. The objective of Surface Tensions is to provoke practical, historical and theoretical responses to this subject across a range of disciplines.
The Surface Tensions research cluster is a new cluster, announced at the Rochester Research Symposium July 2008 and forms part of a collaborative research network linking UCA to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Researchers and interests:
| Dr Victoria Kelley | Design History, Fashion History, Material Culture |
| Professor Ulrich Lehmann | Cultural History |
| Simon Bliss | Contemporary Design & Craft |
| Chris Coekin | Photography |
| Dr Glenn Adamson (Research Department, Victoria & Albert Museum) | Design History, Modern Craft |
Activities:
Events:
A programme of events is planned, commencing in Autumn 2008.
Conferences and symposia:
December 2008: Contemporary Jewellery: Display, installation and performance
The principle aim of the symposium was to ask questions about the way jewellery is consumed as object, image and idea. The event included presentations from UCA staff and students and two distinguished visiting speakers:
Professor Elisabeth Holder (of the Fachhochscule, Düsseldorf)
Lin Cheung (2008 Jerwood Prize nominee)
The event coincided with this year's launch of the new MA and BA in Contemporary Jewellery at the Rochester campus.
Postgraduate study:
The Surface Tensions research cluster welcomes applications from prospective research degree students (MPhil/PhD) who wish to pursue practice-based or theoretical/historical study into any aspects of the cluster's subject area. Please contact Dr Victoria Kelley for further details.
