I recently had the pleasure of seeing the UCS BA(Hons)Photography degree show in two locations. One in the university campus, the other at Free Range – the converted – sorry painted white on the inside old Truman Brewery in Brick lane.

The campus location happened to be a dance studio with high ceilings and a mezzanine floor with bar overlooking the space. Display structures had been created especially to provide 4 hanging walls in the centre of the space with other material hanging or being projected onto three of the walls of the room. The photographs fitted the space, there was a calmness about it and a reverence.

Compare that to  using a space in a converted brewery and what a transformation. I was glad I saw these works in a sympathetic space. They were streets ahead of the competition at Free Range but I thought the space detracted from the works.

What is this penchant to use  industrial relics with a slap of white paint on badly  bricked up walls? Is it a form of social or artistic conditioning that we artists meekly succumb to in our bid for exposure?

I for one do not care for it but realise that if has to submit work as a group to get ‘seen’ then we have little choice but to follow theherd