IMAGE GALLERY
CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS
Photography by Felicity Ieraci
Interview by Matt King
A name synonymous with all things creative, Central Saint Martins is recognised world wide as one of the leading schools in Art and Design, formed when the previous Saint Martins School of Art (est.1854) and The Central School of Art and Design (est.1896) merged in 1989. Spanning the fields of design, fashion, art, music, and film, CSM is renowned for its reputation of sculpting some of the finest talent of the past 150 years. It’s alumni is impressive to say the least, with the likes of John Galliano, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Jarvis Cocker, Gilbert and George, Matthew Williamson, PJ Harvey, Riccardo Tisci, Paul Smith and Gareth Pugh.
As an ex-student, I remember the first day I set foot into the building at Southampton Row, I even remember exactly what I was wearing and the first person I spoke to. It was the day of my interview and the hour train journey from Kent to London with my mum was daunting and felt more like three hours. I can honestly say I have never been so nervous in my life as my college tutors said I would never get in; I ignored their negativity and applied anyway. My heart pounded as I walked up the concrete steps through the double oak doors into the historic building knowing all the people who had done the same before me. I dropped off my portfolio and bags of sketchbooks, notebooks, post its and loose pages and the rest, as they say, is history. I was accepted onto the course and spent the next three years studying/partying my way through a BA Honours in Graphic Design. I’m pleased to say I studied there, although I would do it all completely differently if I were given another chance! For me I think it was a tad too soon and became more of a life experience than an intensive study, work, study, draw, create, study, photograph, study, degree. At least I passed, even with a project entitled ‘Fuck Work Let’s Party’.
The iconic and historic buildings of CSM are now closing their doors for the grand opening of a new complex in Kings Cross, which for the first time will merge all genres of art and design in one place. The photographic studio will sit side by side with the fashion studio, giving the chance for students to create unique collaborations, something I would have loved to take part in! We decided to ask a tutor from the Southampton Row campus, Gary Wallis and a student from the Charing Cross Road campus Hampus Berggren for their thoughts on the big change and unification taking place at the new complex. Gary is a photographer and has taught photography for several years now at CSM; Hampus is a BA Fashion Design Menswear graduate from CSM, who is about to start an MA Fashion Design at the new complex in Kings Cross and is also one of the few students to experience the heritage of the old buildings, as well as becoming part of the generation to bloom in the new.
What would you say is significant about Central Saint Martins as an institution?
Gary: The ethos of the college is to draw out the inherent diverse talents within the students, encouraging them to experiment and explore rather than focusing on teaching ‘this software package’ or ‘this piece of technical equipment’. We focus on ideas!
One of the key factors is the reputation of CSM, it now attracts exceptional students from around the world and this diverse mix of talented people drawing on different cultural backgrounds is one of the strengths of the college now.
Hampus: I think the name Saint Martins has a certain ring to it, even for people who are not particularly interested in art. You might know it from a Pulp song, or from one of the many articles written about the college. But most importantly it has been a major part of shaping the contemporary art and fashion scene since as long as I can remember.
Known for its multi-purpose faculty, with staff rarely pursuing only a single, educational vocation, what would you say is the benefit of such diverse and involved staff, as both educators and role models for students?
Gary: It is a real strength of the College that a lot of the staff are working professionals in tune with the industry they are teaching.
Hampus: All my tutors on the BA Fashion course come from a professional background, and some even work in the industry today. This has of course given me a valuable input into the industry and helped me with contacts for work placements. Even though the teaching is highly unconventional, it’s interesting how staff still manage to push the students to produce high amounts of work. Great things can be achieved when both student and tutor feel a passion for their chosen field.
How would you say it has influenced or shaped what you do, both as student/educator and as designers/creative people?
Gary: I studied at CSM myself and started doing limited teaching within a couple of years of graduating; this was a great support to my own professional practice. I am also very passionate about my subject, I really enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience, I never intended to be a tutor but I love it! Now that I have a fractional post with a salary this frees me up from chasing so much commercial work to pay the bills, enabling me to work on more self initiated projects.
Hampus: My time at CSM has shaped the designer I am today. Both the craft I’ve learned, but also the people I’ve met throughout the journey. I’ve learned as much from my peers as from my tutors, and I think they are all not only friends, but future colleagues. It is difficult to pin down, but in a way I have learned to see things differently. Since we work from a very research based method, I have learnt to work conceptually to find my own aesthetic.
What’s the purpose for such a grand move?
Gary: It was obvious that although we loved the heritage and history of the old buildings they were not suitable to deliver education as we want to and the overall student experience was not as good as it could be. The students were too separate with very little social space, in the new building there is lots of room for the students to interact. I am also very keen to get a lot more interaction between courses. In Kings cross my course is next to fashion and could open up some interesting collaborations.
Hampus: As much as we all love the old buildings, they were in desperate need of renovation. It will be strange in the beginning, but the spirit doesn’t live in walls, it lives in the staff and the students.
Is it a welcome one, a new chapter for a new generation, or would people rather stay as they are?
Gary: It is a time of great change and of course people will be nervous but it is essential to change and constantly reassess how we teach to improve and remain at the forefront of Art and design education. I am really excited and I think the students will be blown away by the facilities. When we are not slap bang in the middle of a building site and the rest of the Kings cross development is finished it will be a very vibrant, exciting area to be in with the college the centrepiece.
Hampus: I’m not really afraid of change and if moving means more space and better facilities I welcome that. I know people have had mixed opinions about the move, but I think in the long run it will be good for the college.
What did you cherish the most about the old Charing Cross/Southampton row campuses?
Gary: I have many amazing memories of the old buildings and these will remain. I will miss the history of the buildings and the feeling of all those who have been before. Now it is time to create a new history in a vibrant Art College for the 21st century.
Hampus: I will always remember my time at Charing Cross Road. The hidden rooftop, the graffiti in the toilets, the labyrinth-like floor plan and the great library. It’s hard to say why you love the place; I think it’s all the memories it holds. I did basically live there for 3 years after all!
What will you take with you to the new buildings, both physically and by means of experience/education?
Gary: We are now in the new building, unpacking our treasured souvenirs and collections to personalize our teaching environments. The new space will enable us to teach differently and approach the subjects in new interesting ways. We are hoping for lots of students hanging out in the studios again and sharing experiences and ideas.
Hampus: Hopefully I will put everything I’ve learned and experienced at Charing Cross with me to Kings Cross and into my MA collection. I see it as a new chapter and although I will always remember my time at Charing Cross, I’m more interested in the future and the possibilities it holds.
What memory most sticks out as representing/encompassing your experience of Central Saint Martins to date?
Gary: Too many to list them all but I still get as big a buzz from the student’s degree show every year as I did my own.
Hampus: When I think about my experience many things come to mind. But most recently we had an amazing closing party for Charing Cross Road. It was magical to dance all night in the same place as we have worked so hard all these years. And Pulp played!
To what degree can you see Central Saint Martins in your future? It’s inevitable you can’t stay on forever but do you think you’ll remain involved or connected somehow?
Gary: Who knows what the future may bring, I cannot imagine a time when I am not involved with Central Saint Martins somehow!
Hampus: When I was on my placement year I worked alongside many CSM alumni. I then understood that there is a certain feeling of fellowship and that I’ll probably work with many of my peers in the future. It would be wrong to say that the name Central Saint Martins doesn’t open up many possibilities. But I think it’s important to remember it all depends on what you want to achieve.