They’d travelled across the world to further their education and follow their dreams. So this week provided a special moment in their journey through De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) as they presented their work at a final, end-of-year Art Show.
INSPIRED: Ellen and her 'Multiple Personality' footwear
It was a key milestone for the first intake of International Foundation Certificate (IFC) students studying Art & Design at DMU’s Leicester International Pathway College (LIPC),
The college opened last summer, providing pathways for international students to prepare them for entry to DMU degree programmes.
The event was not only a memorable point in the students’ development, it also helped underline DMU’s positioning as a truly international university, with students from more than 130 countries. Cyprus, Kuwait, Mexico, Nigeria, South Korea and Taiwan were just some of the nationalities represented at the exhibition.
The IFC is a university preparation course, allowing international students to progress onto the first year of a DMU degree from six different pathways – and one of several programmes offered by the college.
LIPC students gain a wide range of skills within their chosen pathway, enabling them to access more than 100 degree programmes while improving their English language at the same time.
The course offers a three-term programme into DMU’s prestigious Art and Design degree programmes, including Architecture, Fashion Design, Fine Art, Footwear Design and Product Design, for example.
“An IFC in Art & Design gives international students a practical platform from which to develop their creativity, as well as learn the theory,” said Art and Design course tutor Zoe Van-de-Velde.
“The final Art show gives the students a focus to manage their creative project, as well as prepare their portfolio; whatever creative degree they want to move onto, the IFC prepares them for their DMU road ahead."
Jung Young Yun, from South Korea, whose English name is Ellen, presented her footwear project, ‘Multiple Personality’, at the show.
“My research and thinking on the project led me to consider the different, sometimes competing aspects of people’s personalities and desires,” said Ellen.
“This inspired me to use a variety of colours, patterns and texture - like strings within an overall personality being pulled, marionette-style - to create a whole footwear design concept.”
Another footwear design student, Hee Young Choi, also from South Korea, used his observations of homeless people in the UK to create his ‘Hobo’ concept, complete with the wings of Olympic god Hermes, protector and patron of travellers, worked into the front of a quirky shoe design featuring a patchwork of different fabrics and patterns.
HERMES' WINGS: Hee Young Choi with this 'Hobo' shoes
Yeh Li Jung, who calls himself Rong, from Taiwan, came to DMU because of its excellent reputation for design. Now he’s on course to take on a DMU Interior Design degree.
“The tutors here really allow us to develop our own ideas and it’s exciting to learn new things, then turn that learning into free expression and creativity,” he said.
Rong’s show project presented his ‘Space Saver’ ideas for making maximum use of space in smaller homes by designing furniture and fittings with combined use. He quotes his mum as giving him the idea to explore the space saving theme.
PROUD: Rong got his 'Space Saver' idea from his mum
Inspired by the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid and Iech Ming Pei, Nigerian IFC student Samson Adejoh is progressing to an Architecture degree this year.
“My work strives to unify and foster harmony between structure, function and beauty. I also want to merge creativity and character into every piece,” said Samson.
“Coming to DMU has been great for me, it’s given me plenty of time and encouragement for independent thinking and practise, it’s given me the freedom to be who I want to be.”
LOOKING AHEAD: Samson Adejoh will stay at DMU to study Architecture
Zoe Van-de-Velde added: “The students are a very lively bunch, and have grown as people as well as improving their skills.
“It’s been great to see them all develop their thinking, build their own individuality and find their creativity as artists.”
Posted on Monday 15 June 2015