Welcome to Liveness 2021

Liveness is a celebration of the work and achievements of our Art, Architecture and Design students. This year was another challenging year for all of our students and I'm extremely proud of them and the colleagues who provided them with unstinting support through all of the twists and turns.

The summer show you see before you is presented as a continuum that will be punctuated with events and unveilings of work as the academic year draws to a close and over the summer. This is an example of how we have supported our students by adjusting timetables and deadlines to accommodate new ways of working necessitated by circumstances.

Yet more work will then be added in the autumn by our postgraduate students. We also hope to present a simultaneous exhibition in our buildings at Aldgate at that stage, followed by a series of pop up shows and events throughout next year to showcase the class of 2021.

On these pages you will see an extraordinary breadth of work showcasing the liveness of the School. Our students have planted trees on the Isle of Dogs, illustrated hoardings on Whitechapel High Street, designed banners for Petticoat Lane, conceived monuments for Aldgate and performed at Shoreditch Town Hall. You'll also be able to view, experience and study their creative outputs whether produced online at home, in the studio and workshop, or in their local neighbourhoods.

Our summer shows have always been commented on for their tactile quality and this has endured even through this online manifestation. You will see how our students have continued to make and perform, demonstrating an innate feel for materiality through ingenious use of materials and objects, to test and create in their homes and outdoors.

Liveness is also a portal into many other events and exhibitions created and curated by our students in virtual galleries, live performances, films, magazines, microsites, blogs, readings, conversations

You are invited to immerse yourself in their world.

Enjoy!

Anne Markey