The Reading Basingstoke Community Rail Partnership (CRP) has once again worked with local arts students to create a vibrant exhibition space at Basingstoke Station.
The annual project, supported by The Arts Society Basingstoke and South Western Railway, sees first year Art and Design students from Queen Mary’s College take over the exhibition space at the station, displaying their work to the public for perhaps the first time.
Each student spends time exploring Basingstoke, interrogating the experience of it and what it means to be a young person living there. They then convey their observations through a diverse range of creative materials to share with the wider community.
The teams behind the project hope the artwork will enhance the travelling experience of passengers, as well as celebrate the achievements of local young people.
Artist Lilly Hardy created her mixed media work using watercolour and stitching. She said: “Nature may be overlooked in our busy lives and my piece shows how even the manmade environment of Basingstoke can be reclaimed by nature.”
Shayna Pacheco’s artwork has been inspired by the shapes and forms of windows, tiles, drains and the textures of floor surfaces. She looked at the small details that people may not notice, recording these as she made the journey from the railway station to college every day, and created paper pulp from recycled papers which she then painted and embroidered.
Artist Mya Hughes grew up in Basingstoke and her work draws upon the positive experiences and memories she has of the area. Her work contains weaving, not only with fabric and threads but also receipts and photographs that have been cut into strips and woven loosely together.
Mya said: “I captured my own experiences of Basingstoke through textures, colours and materials, transforming fleeting moments into tangible artistic expressions that mirror my everyday life. My ‘Woven Memories’ piece demonstrates how individual moments and fragmented recollections are intricately intertwined.”
Lucy Lomax, community rail officer for the Reading Basingstoke CRP, said: “The standard of art blew me away – the results are so dynamic and thought-provoking.
“The best thing about this project is that displaying the art at the station gives the students such a sense of pride, builds their confidence, and helps build their portfolio as they apply to university. Be sure to have a look when you are next catching a train!”
Find out more about South Western Railway’s work in the community here.
Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from the Reading Basingstoke CRP via their website.
