Students in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) are busy getting ready for the annual grad show.
This years’ theme is Present Tense. Graduating students are creating pieces that explore what the theme means to them through a variety of materials and mediums.
“This semester I’ve been dealing with the environment. Decomposition, rot, death and the evolution into something new,” says Haley Hubert, KPU Arts student. “This final art piece of mine is really celebratory of that.”
Inspiration for these pieces can come from a wide range of areas, including personal hobbies, observations, or personal experiences in their lives.
“At the beginning of the semester, I went through a pretty sad loss in my life,” says Zoe Graham, KPU Arts student.
Graham explains, she used her grief to influence her sketches for the show.
“I really embraced all the feelings and created work that I hope people can feel. I have a lot of images of forest, because there’s a lot of death in forest and a lot of life and as the seasons change so does the landscape and so do emotions,” she says.
The pieces in the show range from clay and printmaking to pastels and painting.
The exhibition gives graduating students a chance to reflect on their journey at KPU, while sharing how far they’ve come in the four-year program with family and friends.
The opening reception is 6 to 8 p.m., Apr. 17 in the Spruce Atrium at KPU Surrey. Present Tense will run until May 8.
