Week Fifty-Three | Astonishing Things
Thursday 1st May was a day of Astonishing Things.
I went to the Slade for the PhD open day and to meet with Professor Goodwin, who I interviewed for the RP. Astonishing was how much I loved it there and felt instant kinship. Also astonishing is that last year of the 109 acceptable proposals, 10 candidates were selected for interview and only 4 were successful. Further astonishment at the news that five years ago UCL were able to offer 35 fully funded research opportunities within the arts and as of 2026 they are able to offer zero fully funded graduate research places. Yikes on all fronts. Immediate response is that I need to spend two years honing my practice and then think about whether this could be even considered.
The Victor Hugo exhibition ‘Astonishing Things’ really was astonishing. More later.
I spotted a design heroine of mine, rather inauspiciously in the RA ladies’ loos. Pippa Small is a jeweller and philanthropist who I have admired and followed for a very long time. I was bold and introduced myself, she was amazing and we talked about her research trips to Bolivia and Afghanistan and her research into different cultures, precious gemstones and gold mining. An absolute inspiration.
The journey home took forever as I live in a country where it is possible to buy a ticket for a train that doesn’t exist and even if it had existed the ticket wouldn’t be valid. So three hours spent in Paddington Station with achey feet and head spinning from an amazing day but fortunately lots to read.