Coventry Fine Art student casts new eyes on ‘Our Essentials’

A Coventry University Fine Art student has been inspired by our everyday essentials to create a thought provoking final project.

Danielle Stubbs, 21, from Hull, has taken basic objects from people’s lives – such as credit cards, telephones and work boots – and transformed them into something that changes their purpose, meaning and function.

In her final Degree Show project, ‘Our Essentials’, Danielle aims to shift these items from being something in the background to being seen in a new light, raising questions and discussions about why we really need these objects in our lives.

Danielle has also drawn inspiration from the work of Richard Wentworth, a British artist and Professor of Sculpture at The Royal College of Art, London, who creates his pieces from materials found in workshop cupboards or charity shops. Danielle admits she often finds interesting objects by ‘tinkering’ in friends’ houses, sheds, skips and scrap yards.

Danielle said:

For this project I wanted to bring out into the open the things we often ignore, and by doing so question what we really need in our lives and what essentials are really important to us.

As a strong visual artist, I was keen to use what I’ve learnt on my Fine Arts course and create highly original visual pieces using a range of techniques and skills.

As well as previously exhibiting her artwork in both Birmingham and Coventry, Danielle is involved in teaching and running workshops.

Danielle’s sculptures will be on show in the art studio space in Graham Sutherland building, Gosford Street, Coventry from 1st – 11th June 2012.