This year’s MA in Design: Expanded Practice degree show, “Found in Translation” is taking place online starting December 7th until the end of the month. The Design blog is taking a closer look at some of the work created by the class of 2020; today, Priscillia Chauveau.
What’s your project about in a nutshell?
My project is about music, objects and interaction. I called it “From digital to analogue”. It is working on different levels. It is looking at materiality, sound and layers. When I was doing my project, my main common thread was experimentation. My show is about challenging the vision, the hearing and the feelings of my audience. It should be a participative show, performed by spectators.
The different layers are one interactive dancing video, a deconstructed-reconstructed record, a music box, an electronic melody and a light object. Unconsciously, most of the parts of my project went from digital from analogue. All of those objects perform together to constitute a ‘brouhaha’, where people would question themselves about the purpose of it. It is a playful, engaging and immersive show.
What kind of research did you do and what are some of the most interesting things you found?
Most of the time, I get my inspiration for my project when I go to exhibitions, thus, I did a lot of research on artists. I got inspired a lot by Yuri Suzuki, he is a sound artist, designer and electronic musician. He investigates the relationship between music and technology. I was also inspired by the painter Sonia Delaunay in terms of shapes and colours, and lastly by Olafur Eliasson for his installations. Because I was working at home first, I did a lot of research online. Then I moved back to London, so I was able to go to the workshops and I exchanged a lot with the design staff. They advised me some books and other artists which helped me a lot. Doing this project made me realise that there is no limit to what one can do on their own.
How did the pandemic and Covid restrictions affect the development of your project?
The pandemic challenged my way of working and my motivation. I faced problems that I had never faced before, so I learnt to work more on my well-being. I realised that I needed to be in a lively environment to enhance my creativity and that interacting with my teachers and peers is really important as well. On a brighter side, I had fewer distractions and it reinforced my passion for design and for wanting to evolve in this world.
What’s your background and how did you choose this MA at Goldsmiths?
I am French and I have been living in London for ten years. I had a French education and then went into the English system. A long time ago, I started as a BA in International management but I was not a fan of it. Then I started a BA in Fashion Marketing. I enjoyed it as I am passionate about fashion and arts since forever. During my BA, I took one year out to study in Hong Kong and then I did an internship in a fashion house in Paris. It is at that moment that I realised, I wanted to learn more about the creative side, from the beginning. At first, I wanted to study graphic design but then I discovered this MA on the practice of design and thought it was even broader, and that I would benefit more from this.
How was your experience on the course?
It was even better than what I expected. In the beginning we worked collaboratively with other students, and I loved creating things with others, having the touch of everyone. This led to doing research collaboratively and then doing my own projects. I think by working like this, following this approach, I learnt a lot about myself and developed new skills. I chose to be in the Communication and Experience studio as I had a background in Marketing. I had wonderful tutors, Roberto, Annelore and Steve. Thanks to them I gained a lot of knowledge in the design world and art in general. And the thing I will remember from this course is that not everything needs to be perfect and you can go beyond that. Also, the teaching team is amazing and I was always feeling supported and challenged by them.
What are your plans for post-graduation?
I will continue to work on my own personal projects. I would love to work for a design studio in the future, maybe doing set design. I am in kind of a transitioning time. Nevertheless, I will carry on working on my ‘From digital to analogue’ project because I want to develop it further.
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