HCA School of Material & Design take over Hereford Cathedral for Reinterpret

The School of Materials and Design recently opened this year's Reinterpret exhibition, showcasing innovative artworks by second-year degree students in Jewellery Design, Contemporary Design Crafts, and Artist Blacksmithing. 

The annual exhibition, held in the crypt of Hereford Cathedral is open to the public until 26 February.

Each piece in the exhibition was directly inspired by the 946-year-old cathedral. 

Students made original work relating to an element of its architecture, its revered objects and images, or one of the social and cultural stories associated with the building and those who have shaped its heritage through the centuries.

Hereford Cathedral Archivist Elizabeth Semper O'Keefe, said: “Every year we are amazed by the creativity of the students who take the stories and traditions that we share with them about the cathedral and produce such a wide variety of pieces in response. 

“It is always a delight to share our enthusiasms and have them reflected back in 3D form.”

Hereford Cathedral has become a fruitful source of inspiration for contemporary artists and makers, with Yinka Shonibare and Grayson Perry both making original work responding to the Mappa Mundi in recent years.

HCA student Luc Fellows linked the process of defacing sculptures that occurred during the Reformation to more contemporary the whitewashing of black narratives, creating a collection of hand-formed masks that are partial and scarred.

Other works include a beautiful crucible-inspired porcelain piece that reveals words when lit from within, and a multi-media sculpture that reimagines the word-of-mouth process by which artists learned about the animals they depicted in the Mappa Mundi.

HCA student James Taylor said: "It was an amazing opportunity to learn more about how to interpret and respond to a brief, and also gain insight into the process of putting together an exhibition. 

“This whole experience was a great learning opportunity, and the things I have learned here will be a huge help to me in my creative practice going forward."

Head of School Del Done MBE added that Reinterpret is a true testament to the creativity and dedication of these young and emerging makers. 

"I am incredibly proud of the hard work our students have put into this exhibition. 

"Their ability to draw from the rich history of Hereford Cathedral and create something entirely new and inspiring is truly remarkable."

Applications to all HCA degree courses are still open. If you are interested in finding our more about studying here, your can reach out to our Outreach team.