Edinburgh College of Art is buzzing. It’s the press, family and friends opening of the 2015 Degree Show. I’ve got two hours, plenty of time to see it all I ambitiously think to myself as I set off in the direction of the sculpture works. I soon come face to face with a man walking around Jerry Maguire style in his undies.

“Did you lose a bet?” I ask nodding towards his lower half.

“No,” he replies deadpan, “I’m re-enacting a performance piece from second year.” He hands me a card with Nappy Man National printed on the front and walks away. It was Alan Trashmouth Records formerly known as Alan Kerr (he sold his name to a record company for £200). The RSA Contemporaries 2016 Selected Artist printed famous artworks onto toilet seats as part of his degree show installation. Does this draw attention to the commercialisation of art or is it more toilet humour gone awry? If you can buy an iPhone cover with Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers on it from the National Gallery, why not a Turner toilet seat?

Alan Kerr

The next work to catch my eye is Alice Chandler’s wonderfully composed installation. Reminiscent of Karla Black’s works, Chandler has used steel, plastic, fleece and paper in a playgroud-esque situation. She has a strong understanding of materiality, colour and composition and is also an RSA Contemporaries 2016 Selected Artist.

Rail and Cloth by Alice Chandler

Installation detail by Alice Chandler

Sky Su’s interactive video piece projected a CCTV-like image onto the wall of those in the room. The data was coded and a programmed delay caused a duplicate of yourself replicating your past motions. It is an enjoyable work and a rare moment of fun for art-goers amongst the passive experiential works. I begin to think of data and image in the digital age; ownership of an image and the reflected-self. Just as it was all becoming a bit too overwhelming for a Thursday evening, the image on screen began to scramble into oblivion. That was my cue to move on. So much more still to see.

I move onto the painters and stop at Karen Fleming’s work, remembering we’d featured it recently on Central Station. It is much more impressive in the flesh and I stand in front of it for some time. Another painter to check out is Sarinda Devine. She has created a small ‘world’ upstairs within a colourful and fun installation. It reminds me of the jungle in the Zebraface Random Acts by Kid Acne.

Karen Fleming

Sarinda Devine

Using a completely different style and technique, RSA Contemporaries 2016 Selected Artist Daryl Shaw McKee explores line and colour using a scientific process of experimentation. She translates 3D spaces into 2D paintings resulting in Tron-like cyber grids.

Daryl Shaw McKee

Finally, photographer Mark Osborne’s work has been selected for the ECA Art Collections Purchase Prize whereby the University seeks to acquire works that represent the artistic output of the art school. I would acquire it myself if I had the chance. I saw his potential a few years ago when he was featured on Central Station and it’s great to see how much his work has developed since then. His abstract photo series analyses light, space and form; presenting the photograph as a considered object for gallery display. The photography graduates also benefit from moving into a more senior role in the established ECA collective, SOFTBOX. This is an ever-expanding network maintained by ECA undergraduates established to encourage collaborative practice, share opportunities and assist with events.

Mark Osborne

The bell rings and I realise I am suddenly out of time. I regret not getting the chance to see the work from the school of design. However I did grab a publication of their work on my way out and it looks exceptional.

The Edinburgh College of Art Degree Show 2015 continues 11am-5pm daily until Sunday 7 June and includes two late openings on Wednesday 3 & Thursday 4 June from 11am-8pm. For more information, please visit here.

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Please visit here for more Degree Show reviews on Central Station.

Over 500 graduating artists, film makers, designers and architects will show work as part of the Edinburgh College of Art’s 2014 Degree Show which is on display until 1 June. You can peruse work online from the schools of art, design, the Reid School of Music, and the architecture and landscape schools on the degree show website. With previous graduates now BAFTA and Turner Prize winners, there’s no time like the present to scope out new talent.

Here are some highlights:

In the sculpture studio are the 16 clay busts of Lionel Ritchie, which are Dylan McCaughtry’s playful response to the music video of the singer’s hit song, Hello. To create the work, he blindfolded himself and made the busts while listening to the 1984 song on repeat.

Elsewhere, Leah Pendleton has filled a studio with multi-coloured worm-like creatures, inspired by Hieronymus Bosch’s painting, The Garden of Earthly Delights. Jack Wrigley has placed several life-size puppets in formal wear around ECA, gazing upon proceedings. Faith Elliott has created a beautiful, glowing miniature universe inside a dark, ramshackle shed.

Painter Sophie Hopkins has taken strips of deliberately ugly wallpaper and made beautiful objects using only its edges. Beverley Hughes has created a tactile, reptilian surface by painstakingly attaching 100,000 individual grains of rice to a canvas.

Several students have produced work that creatively addresses everyday issues. In textiles, Jenny Ellery has worked with unusual materials to produce tactile products for fidgeters. Product designer Henry Collingham has devised a way to create a refrigerator from car parts cheaply available in the developing world.

Other students have created swimming goggles for the visually impaired and bird houses from waste carpet fibre. In Architecture, students show their designs – and some remarkable models – for their plans to transform neighbourhoods in Manchester, the Venetian lagoon and Japan.

Many students have looked to their own families for inspiration. Matilda Craston has brought to life the forgotten poetry of her great-uncle, who died in 1937 aged 17, using graphic design. In Film and Television, Stuart Edwards’ documentary, A Wee Night In, is about his 95 year-old gran finding love with a 90 year-old boyfriend who comes to stay at weekends. Jewellery and Silversmithing student Hazel Thorn has experimented with base and precious metals to create objects that look fragile but are deceptively strong.

Suzanne van der Lingen’s work in the Masters of Contemporary Art section splices together footage from 1950s adventure films set in jungles – such as The African Queen – to question the depiction of women and indigenous cultures.

Last minute preparations for the ECA degree show 2013

The ECA degree show is currently on display until 1 June. For more information see the degree show website.

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For more events, see our Weekly Bulletin here.