As part of the marketing team for the exhibition THE SPACE BETWEEN US, it became my responsibility to design a poster that encapsulated the full spirit of our exhibition in light of the developing situation. As our artists dispersed across the country to be with their family, and the planning of our exhibition had to adapt, it quickly became apparent that THE SPACE BETWEEN US [initially to be located at the University of Lincoln] would have to develop into an online platform.
It was after the announcement of the lockdown that the name, THE SPACE BETWEEN US, was agreed upon by all our artists; a title to reflect the struggles we would now face amidst the pandemic. However, it is important to note that while concerned and stressed, we remained hopeful for the future months and positive towards the new and unique possibilities that we now faced. With little experience of hosting an online exhibition, this situation offers us all a chance to learn, grow and better our skills. It is adding to our educational experience in a way no other situation could. As such, the title THE SPACE BETWEEN US highlights a beautiful opportunity to create contemporary artwork from excellent new artists in a way that is distinctive and therefore incredibly rewarding. While other fine art courses across the country have elected to cancel or postpone their degree show exhibitions, the artists of the University of Lincoln have chosen to tackle this issue with determination and a desire to persevere towards greatness.
When designing the poster, it felt incredibly important that the aesthetic remain clean and simple. There was no need for bright, flashy colours, or complex design. The image chosen as the backdrop of the poster was an image I had taken just a day before the lockdown was announced of the space our exhibition would have been held; a space that connects all of our artists together, no matter how far apart we are now. This is the common thread between us all, not so much the space itself but what the space means to all of us. The University of Lincoln has been our artistic home for the past three years, a space that we have all grown and bettered ourselves in. As such, with its inclusion in our poster design, the University Gallery space follows us into our degree show exhibition, even if our work cannot be exhibited there.
