Lucy
For Lucy, everything at Elam was new. Now, it's a canvas for exploring identity, culture and self.
Lucy found her path to the Elam School of Fine Arts through serendipity. Originally set on studying Design, a chance tour of Elam with a friend shifted her trajectory, leading to her acceptance into the school.
Stepping into Elam was like entering a new world for Lucy: "I came to Elam, never having painted before, and I started doing that. I had never done ceramics, but I started doing that. Everything's new." This newness, far from being intimidating, became a catalyst for exploration and growth.
The diverse creative spaces at Elam have become Lucy's playground for artistic discovery. She has found a welcoming home in the Elam studios, from painting and photography to sculpture, metalwork and ceramics. The depth of instruction available has been transformative, with Lucy discovering that some of her lecturers are renowned artists whose work she had previously admired in galleries.
I came to Elam, never having painted before, and I… I started doing that. I had never done ceramics, but I started doing that. Everything's new.
One of the most valuable aspects of her Elam experience has been the collaborative learning environment. Lucy shares, "One of my favourite things that we do in class, is class critiques. Everyone has their own thing that they've been researching and it's all reflected in whatever they're making. They tell us about what they're making, and then we kind of help."
The curriculum at Elam, which emphasises critical thinking and conceptual development, has provided Lucy with the freedom to explore themes deeply personal to her. She's embarked on a journey of self-discovery, connecting with her Cantonese roots through her art. "For me, my art is so intertwined with my journey, with my identity… everything I make is in relation to that," Lucy explains.
This exploration of identity has led to deeply personal projects. While sharing such personal work can be daunting, Lucy acknowledges its importance: "So, it is scary, especially when it's a very personal thing to me… and then I'm putting it out there. [But] it's such an important way of, like… self-expression for me. My artwork is me."
Lucy offers this advice for new Elam students: "You are going to be thrown together with a wide range of individuals from different backgrounds, upbringings and cultures. Be prepared to embrace that diversity. Some people are here after completing a first degree, and some, like me, are straight out of high school." This diversity, Lucy has found, is part of what makes the Elam experience so rich and transformative.
At Elam, Lucy has discovered not just new artistic techniques, but a deeper understanding of herself and her heritage.