Ireland's Home Interiors & Living (174), Issue 111, September 2004
Hall of Fame
Once again, students from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin and the University of Ulster in Belfast have proved their talents and skill, graduating in everything from ceramics and fine art to textiles and print. Here are a handful of the group graduating in 2004.
John Laurence Speight
University of Ulster
“The question is what is good or bad taste?
Who makes the rules who says what goes and what doesn’t?”
John Laurence Speight enjoys challenging society's expectations. 'As a society, we're led to believe that what's the norm and what's expected is carved in stone. I think we should challenge this by looking at interior design, investigating the use of pattern and aesthetics. In my first year I concentrated on sculpture and ceramics, because the tactile side appealed to me. I was also influenced by earth art and the work of Andy Goldsworthy and Richard Long.' John started making cushions out of bubble wrap, stuffed with feathers and rose petals. In his final year he experimented with interiors.
'I looked at Regency designs, reprinting over the traditional wallpaper patterns. This creates an element of confusion because there are two patterns which, together, create a new contemporary pattern. I worked with different textures and integrated them into the piece, using screen printing and constructing 3D pieces.' Eventually, John hopes to go to Goldsmiths or the Royal College of Art in London to do a Masters in Applied Arts. 'I want to be able to incorporate elements of interior design. Problem is, Goldsmiths is very expensive, about £10,000/€14,600 a year, so I need to get funding. In the future I see myself designing spectacular pieces for rooms.'