Camberwell Space was reimagined as something in-between a critical-illustration studio and an arts-education think-tank. This created a space for experimentation, conjecture, visual hypothesis, community building, play and fun!
The events drew on the diverse range of staff research within the Illustration Programme at the College. The aim was to challenge perceptions of illustration and consider what it might mean to be an illustrator in the future.
The launch night of 'The Office for Speculative Landscapes' kicked off with a performance by Bones and the Aft at Camberwell Space. The band, known for their unique blend of primal rock theatre, captivated the audience with homemade costumes, pop-up stage sets and a mix of apocalyptic saxophone, guitars and synths.
Dr. Daniel Felstead and Alis Oldfield’s session on the 'wild' internet provided thought-provoking insights into the intersection of technology, ecology and fashion. They explored counter histories and future possibilities within digital spaces, emphasising the need for a life-sustaining internet. Chaired by Gareth Proskourine-Barnett, the discussion highlighted fashion's role in shaping digital narratives and ecological thinking in the virtual world.
INIVA’s archivist Kaitlene Koranteng and artist Sondliwe Pamisa explored art, archives and creative collaboration. Attendees engaged in writing exercises and discussions, delving into marginalised histories and the role of archives in preserving cultural narratives. The session was interactive, fostering deep insights into diasporic identity and preservation.
This event brought together creatives and students in the art and design field to critically examine the ethical considerations of emerging technologies, particularly Generative AI. Panel discussions explored the depiction and positionality of women in visual culture, considering how women navigate a male-dominated technological landscape. Speakers, including Anouchka Grose, Henrietta Simson, Jayoon Choi and Lili Ibrahim, engaged in a lively critique, reflecting on feminist perspectives, digital representation and the impact of AI on creativity and gender dynamics in the tech world.
Nasia Papavasiliou and Sara Ortolani hosted a workshop exploring embodied connections with land and water. Participants engaged in slow-paced activities such as walking, listening, and writing to connect with the land and environments. The session aimed to explore non-human-centric, less oppressive relationships with nature, fostering alternative ways of visual communication.
In this creative workshop, Peony Gent and Jhinuk Sarkar guided participants in exploring new ways of capturing identity through portraiture. Using prompts and shared objects, attendees experimented with drawing to express a deeper sense of being. The session fostered connection, creativity and inclusive representation in a collaborative, welcoming environment.
This public workshop explored generative AI for moving image creation, open to all ages using smartphones or laptops. The event featured demonstrations, hands-on sessions, and discussions led by artists and educators Jayoon Choi, Marius Simkus and John Inch. Participants engaged with AI tools, shared findings and debated the future of AI in creative practices.
GET A LIFE by Daniel David Freeman explored the intersection of wearable art, fashion and digital media. This 1 night exhibition featured a film shot in Kyoto, starring AR-enhanced dancer Kamilla Halid in GET A LIFE garments, alongside a live performance with 5 collaborators. Set to Detroit techno, the event merged dance, fashion and emerging technologies, questioning the very nature of exhibitions. Freeman’s unique artistic vision blurs genres, creating an immersive, experimental experience that celebrates creativity and fun.
The event explored the future of illustration education with academics from China and the UK. Discussions focused on adapting to global changes, emerging professional roles and innovative teaching practices. Speakers included Darryl Clifton, Professor Wu Jiang, Vincent Larkin, Tan Tan, Zhang Yuwei, and IVAS founders Minyan Hiam and Michelle Jacques.
The Web3 art movement is driving a global surge in creativity, blending traditional and digital practices. This event offered discussions, workshops and informal sessions on getting started with digital making, Web3 art and emerging processes. Participants explored how Web3 might shape the future of arts education, creative careers and entrepreneurship. Organised by the UAL Digital Maker Collective, the day encouraged critical engagement with new digital art opportunities.
The Illustration Studies Research Group at UAL hosted a special event to explore the publishing history of the Association of Illustrators (AOI) and its impact on contemporary society. The discussion featured Derek Brazell (AOI Publications and Membership Manager), Adrian Shaughnessy, John O'Reilly and Olivia Ahmad, editors of Varoom magazine, who reflected on their roles in shaping the publication's legacy. This event provided insight into the AOI's efforts to promote illustration and support the business interests of illustrators. Attendees had the opportunity to browse archival material and engage in discussions over drinks.
Participants in this workshop used a human-powered drawing machine by Nous Vous to slow down the act of drawing, making it more complex and challenging. This exercise sparked dialogue about mark-making, imagination, and visual memory, leading to either impressive or amusing results, depending on one's perspective.
In this 4-hour workshop, participants used the online resource ‘Bibliodyssey’ for inspiration to craft imaginary creatures with modelling clay. These 3D models were digitally scanned using Scaniverse and uploaded into an immersive online environment, accessible for independent exploration. The event provided hands-on experience with 3D technologies, including Scaniverse and FrameVR, and participants could explore the virtual world using Meta Quest 3 headsets.
This workshop explored the voices of defunct technological objects from the David Usborne collection. Participants engaged in creative writing, inhabiting objects and collaborative storytelling, culminating in an improvised stage play. Led by Gareth Proskourine-Barnett and Zoe Buckberry, the event combined material culture, performance and speculative design in an imaginative interdisciplinary experience.
In this workshop, participants used personal memories to create experimental poetry comics. They explored how to blend emotive narratives with visual storytelling. Peony Gent introduced the emerging form of poetry comics, encouraging experimentation and drawing inspiration from diverse sources. The session helped build skills in combining comics and poetry to express deep emotions.
Zoe Buckberry and Jhinuk Sarkar led an engaging workshop at Camberwell College of Arts, exploring the ILEA archive through sensory experiences. Participants interacted with objects from the archive, connecting their creative processes to the artefacts. The session included drawing and storytelling, prompting new ways to explore archives through touch, sight and imagination.
The workshop explored the future of Art and Design studios in education through presentations, guided tasks and discussions. Facilitated by Darryl Clifton and Rose Gridneff, it engaged students and creatives in speculative practices. Materials and tools were provided, fostering creativity, collaboration and insights into innovative educational approaches.
In this workshop, participants explored quilt making as a tool for storytelling, community and connection. Using basic quilt-making and appliqué techniques, they each created a felt quilt square to contribute to a collaborative album quilt. Isabel Greenberg and Peony Gent shared their own textile-based work, offering support to all participants.
Over the course of 2 days 10 members of staff from the Illustration programme shared their ceramics. Through a variety of modes of display, documentation and sharing this two day event activated overlapping approaches, practical knowledges and themes. Led by Sinead Evans.