Royal Academy Summer Exhibition

As the Lower Sixth are developing their work further to explore more individual ideas, this June’s trip to the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy in London was ideally timed to inspire. The sheer variety of art on show means that there is something for absolutely everyone to enjoy.

Students spent time absorbing the summery vibe of the show, before sketching and photographing whatever connected with their own emerging creative ideas. They questioned the curatorship and selection process, considering the range of ways in which art was displayed. Also on show was the work of the final year students of the Royal Academy Schools, whose studio spaces had been converted into galleries for the purpose. Our Fine Artists enjoyed the challenging nature of this avant-garde work, provoking some interesting discussions and debate. The Photography group ‘escaped’ to a specialist photography gallery temporarily based in a former men’s clothing store down the road from the RA. Consideration of subject matter, scale and materials used was key to the process for both groups, in addition to questioning the motivations of the artists, in all their guises.

Hopefully we will see all of this “looking and thinking” reflected in some exciting, relevant, and personal work in the Lower Sixth students’ own Summer Exhibition this time next year. Despite the very hot day and the lengthy coach journey, we all thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the London Art scene for a very special day out.

Judith Renfrew, Head of Art