If you saw a black man in a hoodie would you form an opinion?

Tackling tough issues through the medium of art, has provided a backdrop for an exhibition open to the public at Cambridge Regional College.

Women’s rights and racism are among the topics brought into sharp focus, thanks to the Cabinet of Curiosities exhibition.

Ros Harrison, Head of Art Foundation, said: “The students have tackled tough issues that affect us all in every day society. It is about encouraging our students to challenge perceptions and misconceptions, so they look at things with a different viewpoint.”

Andy McKenzie, art and design lecturer, said: “The work in this exhibition is particularly thought provoking and is credit to our students who have worked so hard putting it together.”

Displays include pre-conceived ideas about black youths in hoodies, women stereotyped throughout the ages and equal rights.

The exhibition is by students on the Level 3/4 Diploma in Art and Design Foundation Studies course. Most of them go on to higher education to study art-based degrees.

Cabinets of Curiosities is open to the public on Thursday May 9, Friday 10, Monday 13 and Tuesday 14. Visitors are welcome from 10am to 4pm in F211c and E-Block ground floor gallery.

In their own words…

Sarah Lowe

Sarah Lowe, of Cambridge, whose exhibition focuses on women’s rights, is going to Loughborough University to study graphic communications and illustration.

“My project was to create promotional material for International Women’s Day. Despite the event occurring annually for over 100 years, I felt there wasn’t a lot of recognition around what the campaign was. I wanted to create work that would not only advertise the day but also raise awareness about the feminist issue of voice. I was drawn to this theme after recent developments like #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, which marked a big change in the acceptance of women’s voices. I wanted to investigate how women are still being silenced. My main aim was to educate the public and explain the importance of International Women’s Day as an opportunity to start the conversation about feminist issues.”

Selena Scott

Selena Scott, whose exhibition is on pre conceived ideas of young black men in hoodies, is going to study fine art at Univesity College London.

“Taking inspiration from the theories of Frantz Fanon in his books ‘The Wretched of the Earth’ and ‘Black Skin, White Masks’; I focussed on the socially normalized preconception to associate ‘black’ with ‘wrong’. I looked at the perceptions related to clothing and race, referring to the Trayvon Martin case and how it is argued that his hoodie was responsible for his murder. I wanted to reference the lasting impact of colonisation on our society, our mentalities and the damage it causes.”

Also among the many Cabinets of Curiosities …

Cabinet of Curiosities