Issue 02 Playgrounds

ISSUE 02

Playgrounds

LINK

Contributors & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

editor’s letter

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Break Time by Laura Garvin Gomez

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Playground (2021) by Polina Predoeva

LINK magazine is back for our second edition, and this time we are following the theme of playgrounds.

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Like much of LINK, our theme started out as a conversation between students, giggling that the bubblegum colours of LCC reminded us of the playgrounds of our childhoods. This idea ballooned, becoming a climbing frame offering structure while we brought this issue to life.

Why Blackout Poetry Should Become Your Reflective Playground

by Anna Holub

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Finding Your Way by Soufyane Badreddine

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Crossing the Thames (2021) by Alaina Mullin

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Playgrounds (2021) by Katherine Cheung

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Festivals by Ella McLaren illustrated by Lizzie Allison

Hello!

Ella McLaren @_ellamclaren Yi Nga Yu @yi.nga.yu Laura Garvin Gomez @lauragarvingomez Chanelle Lartey Risberg @chanelle.r Soufyane Badreddine @sf_bdrddn Anna Holub @a_girl_who_loves_red Yee Ki Cheung @yiukaid Polina Predoeva @z.art.illustrations Alaina Mullin @alainakmullin Lizzie Allison @sharkmouth02

contentS

In this edition we delve into the magic of music festivals, poetry and our very own UAL campuses.

Alongside these musings we have gorgeous artworks and graphic design. And, as always, every single piece of LINK has been created and pulled together by students from across the colleges.

So what are you waiting for? It’s time to explore…

From, Ella LINK Editor @linkualmag

ON THE COVER

Katherine Cheung Playgrounds (2021) Digital @yiukaid

MASTHEAD link issue 02 : page 02

Editor's letter link issue 02 : page 03

Break Time

by Laura Garvin Gomez

Tickled with the dew of fruit shoots We ran In clumps of twos and threes and tens To our trees and dens That no other children dared cross It was our day Filling stick houses with muddy knees And cartoon barks Shouting “good little dog” Passing through as those houses burnt up by older voices Smelling like jerky or our version of what we thought jerky smelt like on TV Dragging merrily through long lines And bell tolls in alphabetical order Till it was our turn to ring them Looking up at our gods Whirling through tires To feel our bones crack with the impact “Does this mean I’ll be popular?”

As our bodies drew themselves tattoos Breath too caught to think about The ones that will shove you And kick you And spit on you.

But for your love I spinned and grinned and ran with fire in my chest To find out who was best At playing with our childhoods again.

Break Time link issue 02: page 04

The playground is a place we have nostalgia about, something that reminds us of our childhoods, the time when the reality and fantasy came hand in hand. My playground is another mix of two different things – two different styles (steampunk and cyberpunk), two different settings (the forest and the space) and two different palettes (one with cold blue/lilac and one with warm orange/ brown). But those elements don’t fight each other for dominance. Someone wants to be a spaceman, another wants to live in a magic house in the wild.

Both sides have a place in children’s dreams. So, please, jump over the curb, touch the sand with your feet and forget about reality. Because this is not just a playground, this is a fantasy.

by Polina Predova

Polina Predova Playground (2021) Playground link issue 02: page 06

Digital @z.art.illustrations

Playground (2021)

Playground link issue 02: page 07

Why black out Poetry Should become your Reflective Playground

by Anna Holub

“Can you imagine a Times article revealing Hidden anxieties about your art, relationship problems, or future?”

Sometimes it can be quite challenging to be human, isn’t it?

Living with this enormous flow of emotions and thoughts, trapped inside our busy minds. People always say that a diary helps, but let’s admit that not everyone is good at reflective writing or with words in general. Even if you are, sometimes it is not easy to find the right ones or get out any at all.

In instances like these, blackout poetry can help.

What is it?

Can you imagine The Times article revealing your anxiety about your art, relationship problems or the future?

Are you sure it sounds so ridiculous?

Let me show you how it would work.

Why Blackout Poetry should become your reflective Playground link issue 02 : page 8

First, find a short story that you like or just a random piece from a magazine. Don’t overthink it. Honestly, even one of those newspapers that you can always find on a tube seat will do. Place your fingers on a stranger’s writing, skim through it and try to connect with some parts. It does not have to make sense. The most important thing is to start feeling.

Good? Well, now pick up a marker and cross out words, sentences or even whole paragraphs that don’t resonate with you.

Finally, the best part – read what you’ve got left.

I was never into poetry and, to be fair, I do not think that I would be any good at it. Yet, from time to time, I feel this weird urge to embody my thoughts into some ethereal linguistic shapes that, in my opinion, only this form of writing allows you to. You can see why I felt immediate excitement

when I learnt about blackout poetry. Isn’t it amazing that you can create a verse without having to rhyme?!

I didn’t dive into it right away, though. For some reason, I was nervous to try.

However, one day life hit me. I felt lost. Maybe you know the feeling?

That’s when I remembered about this art practice. I took one of the magazines that are so conveniently always laying around the campus and, as I felt destructive, easily let myself ruin the original text. I cannot tell you what an author of that article wrote about. I did not pay attention to it, only to the words I felt close to, adding correct endings or articles where needed.

Why Blackout Poetry should become your reflective Playground link issue 02 : page 9

“IT was my first blackout poem ever.”

My eyes Unable to decide what to focus on.

Every color, every line Looks like a picture.

This is a canvas.

This is Art. Some see this as mere decoration that goes Through the stages of transformation.

Heavily-detailed.

Multicolored.

Various sizes.

Different styles.

Does it reflect what I was worried about? Not even close.

Did I feel relieved? Oh yes!

With blackout poetry you never know what you will end up with, as you cannot guess words you could choose from. You find yourself in some stranger’s writing, discover hidden meanings and maybe accidentally stumble upon a personal revelation.

You go where a flow takes you.

Isn’t it the purest form of reflection?

He created this masterpiece from pure Love.

This is breathtaking.

It brought everyone together.

His Art was a vision.

It sent a message of pride.

Why Blackout Editor's letterPoetry should become your reflective Playground link issue 02 01 :: page page 010

Why Blackout Poetry should become your reflective Playground link issue 02 : page 11

“These university years are a great opportunity to explore, gain confidence, become your own, and who knows? You might find yourself.”

The University of the Arts London (UAL) is just like a playground. Each college is like a different attraction and just like at the playground your friends are likely to be in there already. However, most of us only use a tiny portion of it when the offer is huge.

A bit as if we were only ever playing on the swings.

Boring, isn’t it? Especially when so much is available.

These university years are a great opportunity to explore, gain confidence, become your own, and who knows? You might find yourself.

I decided to visit three of UAL’s colleges and do my university work at that site for a day.

That way, I could give an overview of what they feel like and hopefully motivate you to try out another of UAL’s attractions.

I believe that what matters most is your experience and what you make of it. In each of the colleges I visited, I had a good time; I always found a comfortable spot to work and felt that the environment I was in was safe and LGBT+ friendly.

The people I met were always interesting, and the conversations I had were filled with opinions about my own and other courses, which in some cases left me with a better understanding of my feelings towards my curriculum. At the playground some

“At the playground some attractions are more popular than others, and in the same way, some colleges are more popular than others. But it doesn’t have to be this way.”

Being a student these days means attending on-site classes, online classes, completing the various assigned readings, working towards the multiple group and individual assignments deadlines and maybe even juggling all this with a part time job. This can feel overwhelming, and it certainly does for me at times. Coming out of my comfort zone to explore the possibilities the different colleges offer helped me go through stressful times. Switching libraries or helping a friend from another college with his fashion styling project, is like a breath of fresh air in what sometimes can seem to be a monotone overcrowded schedule.

attractions are more popular than others, and in the same way, some colleges are more popular than others. But it doesn’t have to be this way. It doesn’t matter which course you are taking, or which campus is yours, you are free to go from one college to another, work in this or that library, eat at this or that canteen.

When I first started at UAL, I thought I would never find anybody I would want to hang out with, and you might have felt the same. Quickly after, I learnt that no matter how niche I think my interests are, or how far-fetched my aesthetic might be, finding a match was easier than I expected. In all honesty, doing so might require a little bit of work. Exploring one campus because it is closer to where you live, or because you need to pick up a book which is only available on that specific campus, can be an opportunity for you to meet new people and enlarge your friend group. One of the perks of a big university is that these people you just met might have a particular expertise and can maybe help you on a project you have going on.

Despite the different inequalities and prejudices you might be facing, these years can be your chance to connect with people you’d have never met in your hometown setting. Many students move from their parent’s home or abroad to go to university. Fostering a sense of community, taking time to meet new people, and exploring the different options you are presented with, can make what appears like a scary experience feel like a trip to the playground.

“Fostering a sense of community, taking time to meet new people, and exploring the different options you are presented with, can make what appears like a scary experience feel like a trip to the playground.”

When we were kids and fell whilst playing, we bruised, maybe cried a little, but carried on because of our purpose: to play. Your university years are your opportunity to experiment and try new things. Of course, not everything is going to turn out perfectly and some bruises might hurt more than others, but you’ll always have the soft ground made up of your friends, and university staff to catch you if you fall.

After all, it is a question of perspective. UAL is your playground, make of it what you wish, and have fun.

By Soufyane Badreddine

Finding Your Way Finding Your Way link issue 02 : page 12

Finding Your Way link issue 02 : page 13

Crossing

the Thames (2021)

By Alaina Mullin

Alaina Mullin Crossing the Thames II (2021) Photography @alainakmullin

“I decided to Name them all“Crossing the Thames”as they were taken crossing the river on the way to campus.”

Alaina Mullin Crossing the Thames III (2021) Photography @alainakmullin

Alaina Mullin Crossing the Thames I (2021) Photography @alainakmullin

Katherine Cheung Playground (2021)

Playgrounds (2021)

By Katherine Cheung

This is a collage of my faded memories of the playground. Everyone’s cheek blushes, sweat on our back. Our parents sit by the benches, holding our bags.

Playgrounds link issue 02 : page 18

Digital @yiukaid

“EVERY YEAR, THE UK COMES ALIVE WITH FESTIVAL SEASON.”

By Ella Mclaren || Illustrated by Lizzie ALLISON

Festivals Festivals link issue 02 : page 20

Playgrounds link issue 02 : page 21

Every year, the UK comes alive with festival season.

With the return of the sun, swathes of people descend on the hundreds of music festivals held across the nation.

Fields are transformed from quiet green pastures to heaving circuses filled with food stalls, bars and hastily erected tents.

Where there was once birdsong and the low rumble of cars, music now blares from speakers interspersed with shrieks of laughter and conversation, the sounds merging together into a constant thrilling hum.

Hoards of people mill around trees, clutching plastic pint cups with lopsided grins plastered across their sticky, glittered faces. Some amble around in groups, laughing and chattering with ease, while others link arms and stomp with determination from tent to tent, only stopping to consult the stage schedules and maps.

Under circus canopies, crowds chatter away before an almighty roar bubbles up from the front row, echoing all the way to the outer edges of the audience as the musicians make their way to the centre of the stage. As the band strikes their opening chords, the crowd moves as one, united by their love of music and a collective desire to have a good time and block the outside world out.

In this magical setting, flower crowns, glitter and vibrant shirts are the uniform and an “anything-goes” mentality fizzes in the air. Strangers sandwiched next to you in crowds become fast friends, while girls bond in the queues for the portaloos, deftly slipping each other tissues and hand sanitiser.

All too soon, the festival is over and it's time to wipe away the facepaint and remove the sequinned tops. As herds of people head towards the exit, hair messy and fingernails grimy, they chatter loudly about the best parts of the experience. Comparing notes about mosh pits and ten second crowd romances. All too soon thoughts of desk jobs, shift patterns and school drown out the trudging of feet and bursts of giggles. Conversations become about bus times and early starts as the mundanity of everyday life filters back in. But, among those planning their regular weeks, there are a few people whose minds are already thinking about their next foray into the carefree world of live music.

Playgrounds link issue 02 : page 22

Playgrounds link issue 02 : page 23