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Julia Shutkevych

Profession
MA Art and Science Student
College
Central Saint Martins
Person Type
Student
Julia Shutkevych

Biography

Julia Shutkevych is from Kyiv, Ukraine and is a student on MA Art and Science at Central Saint Martins.

Interview

Why did you choose to study MA Art and Science at Central Saint Martins (CSM)?

Back in Ukraine, I didn't have a formal arts degree, although, I've been studying a lot. Given my interest in technology, I've started exploring motion graphics, augmented reality and generative art. In parallel, I've been also sculpting from clay, doing calligraphy and academic drawing. Perhaps, I felt the need to work interdisciplinary right from the beginning.

Little by little, I started shaping myself as an emerging artist, when suddenly the war started. To cut a long story short, I realised the life I've known is gone, so I thought I'd try to keep going and look for my path. I started looking for postgraduate programmes focusing on Art & Science as that's what I want to do the most in my life.

What’s the most interesting project you’ve worked on so far? What made it so interesting to work on?

I have a feeling that the most interesting project is the one I'm working on, at any given point. Currently, I'm exploring the topic of regeneration across ecosystems; working with e-waste as a language and material and using environmental sensing and digital listening as my core methods of research.

So far, I've been collaborating with Circular Material Hub (Rene Materials), a local charity shop at Archway (Second Chance) and established an e-waste collection point at our studio space to collect and repurpose the materials. This resulted in the multimedia installation exhibited as a part of The Green House collective exhibition dedicated to Earth Day 2023, curated by the Climate Emergency Network at the Lethaby Gallery.

Have you completed any work placements / internships whilst being on the course? 

Apart from studying, and learning how to work with new materials and technologies, I've been taking part in several exhibitions, courses and events. There was an intensive course called Rendering Utopias by Feminist Internet and the Creative Computing Institute (CCI), where we, a group of students across different programmes at UAL, explored perspectives on futures, tech and the concept of Utopia. This also resulted in a pop-up self-organised exhibition showcasing our group projects. This course was a catalyst for sparking my interest in the more-than-human framework of the world.

What important piece of advice would you give to students thinking of studying this course?

This course gave me the freedom to search, think and experiment. I would only advise you to listen to your heart and choose wisely, or choose silly, but it's important to make decisions on your own, following your unique way of doing things. The world of art is borderless and interdisciplinary art is even larger, so sometimes it may be scary that its vastness may absorb you like a Black Hole.

What has been the highlight of your CSM experience so far?

Receiving the congrats email about my acceptance to the Transcultural Collaboration Programme by Shared Campus!

I am thrilled to continue my studies, as I am going to start an International Semester Programme in Zurich and Taipei where I hope to develop my research and deepen my art practice.

What is the most important thing you've learnt on the course so far?

I've learnt so much. Hopefully, I won't stop on the achieved.

The main takeaway; Listen to your heart, go with the flow and never stop.

Links

Check out Julia’s website, or follow her on Instagram
View the MA Art and Science course page

Central Saint Martins

Contact

Telephone

+44 (0)20 7514 7444

Address

1 Granary Square
King's Cross
London
N1C 4AA