Moscow’s Artplay hosts it second Student Art Prom

This will be second time that Artplay hosts Student Art Prom — an exhibition of works created by students of Moscow art schools. Last year’s event looked more like the fusion of a fair and a master class.

This time around, the exhibition will last twice as long — a month instead of two weeks — and its area will have almost tripled.

The student exhibition, which was initiated by former Artplay director and current head of the Moscow Museum association Alina Saprykina, keeps expanding.

The event brings together traditionalists from the Stroganov School, Iosif Bakstein’s students and their colleagues from the Institute of Modern Art (IPSI), as well as students of some of the new art schools — Eugene Asse’s MARSH and the Strelka Institute and Rodchenko School.

The idea of displaying Moscow students’ works is nothing extraordinary. The Rodchenko School and IPSI’s Free Workshops have long been exhibiting their students’ graduation works.

Even so, Student Art Prom is distinguished by its sheer scope. The art students are those who benefit most, as it is always helpful to see other mentoring styles and their results.

The Stroganov School displayed painting, sculpture, etching and design inspired by the 1980s Italian school. IPSI students presented the concept “30 Days of Waiting,” based primarily on their curators’ ideas.

The British Higher School of Art and Design made presentations of all its departments, rather than just the contemporary art department that was established two years ago.

The British Higher School of Art and Design is the most expensive school involved in Student Art Prom; moreover, all of its students are required to pay fees. A bachelor’s degree from the British School is recognized in Europe.

Its Student Art Prom section is jammed with students’ works, like every other school’s section, yet the presentation is more professional: Each stand has individual color highlights, and there are tables with handouts advertising the students’ expertise and skills.

The British School’s contemporary artwork is markedly different from what is performed in its graphic design and illustration departments, where students are taught to work with fonts, print and forms, in compliance with international standards.

This student art would not look out of place in a gallery or at Moscow Biennale. The British Higher School of Art and Design is particularly good at selling itself, and the other Student Art Prom participants could learn from its experience.

First published in Russian in Kommersant.

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