DEGENERATION
LETTER FROM THE CREATIVE Welcome to the seventh issue of ST.ART Magazine, a visually driven independent magazine dedicated to promoting and exhibiting the creative talent of St Andrews. As a platform to showcase the raw talent and inspiring work of its contributing artists, ST.ART strives to champion creative freedom and vision. With the New Year and the new semester we are continuing to push ST.ART onto an upward trajectory; diversifying our readership by delving into the realms of fashion and music [stay tuned!] as well as reaching students internationally. With the introduction of new committee members we know this will be achieved while maintaining our maintaining our aesthetic ideals and remaining true to our values as a student run magazine. Looking at the growth of the magazine, we would like to thank everyone who has participated in making ST.ART such a thriving student magazine and really help us transform it into a hub of creativity to be proud of. We would also like to thank the artists who have made an artistic contribution to the issue, DEGENERATION, as we believe that their work captures a collective success in what ST.ART is about. The DEGENERATION issue launch will take place on 5th March and we look forward to seeing you all there. The aim of ST.ART Magazine, above all, is not to make you happy or sad, excited or calm, inspired or dejected, it may do all of the above! The aim is simply to make you pause and think. A picture truly can speak a thousand words. Enjoy!
photography by / ANASTASIA DAUKAS
photography by / MARIA FACIO LINCE
Photography by RENATA GRASSO
body art by by Photography RENATA GRASSO / VEDA KRUGER
Never has it been a more exciting time for music in St. Andrews. With a student body as diverse as ours, home to over one hundred nationalities, it is only right that our music scene represents this richness of culture, style and art. Our mammoth number of societies form the backbone to music in St. Andrews; with their events and members shaping the body. To highlight but a few genres, indie and alternative music has its foundations firmly rooted in St. Andrews soil, going from strength to strength, building and growing, to bring us the best in artists and events. The a cappella scene continues to ignite and inspire. Each year, our groups are newer, bigger and better; more crisp, more professional, more humorous and more sensational making St. Andrews the epicentre of Scottish, and arguably British, a cappella. Yet, our music scene is constantly evolving and expanding. In recent years, house music has come
to the fore with force, resulting in its DJs taking over club nights and events, and attracting high quality artists to St. Andrews. Lately, the hip hop scene, once bubbling under the restrictive surface, has come to light; breaking through with a fresh, daring and exciting vibe. So what can ST.ART Music add to such musical diversity? Well, there is still work to be done and improvements to be made. We are here to promote, expose, consolidate, review, bring together and celebrate all things music in St. Andrews. We seek to represent all genres; from the most popular to the most niche, and all St Andrean artists; from those first starting out, to those established and well known. We seek to be an all inclusive body dedicated to the music cause. And, ultimately, we seek to show that love and admiration for music is live and kicking in this remote coastal corner of north-east Scotland. So, JOIN THE CREATIVE.
sculpture by / REBECCA PRENTICE
illustration by / MIRANDA BURNETT STUART
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photography by / QI TIAN
By RACHEL TAM Anon or delete please because I know people who are on here... I met this guy a few weeks ago at a house party, and we spent all evening together talking. It wasn’t the usual oh where do you come from, what do you study etc etc, we actually talked about the most random things like what being irreligious means, why polytheism makes most sense and agnostics are just annoying. We debated whether George Osborne is shitter than Gordon Brown. Colonialism we spent AGES on, and we talked about feminism, of course. He’s involved with the feminist cause here. And his degree is in Philosophy, like me, but I’m three years below him. We like the same sort of music, and share a secret love of 1D… Anyway we swapped numbers and he walked me halfway home and texted afterwards saying it was really great talking, we should hang out. We met up the next night but it was a lot more busy so we didn’t get to chat and his friends kept trying to drag him other places to smoke pot but we did dance for a bit, really close and he was stroking my skin through the holes in my top and spinning me. I didn’t see him for a few days but we kept texting. He was sporadic but really intense, sending about four, five things, practically simultaneously in the time it would have taken me to type one sentence. (I always have to think about what I’m going to say, so it takes me longer.) He put loads of xxxxx and wink faces, and when I sent him my work to proofread he said it was really good for a first essay, probably I’d get a high 2.1 with that. Then we wound up at another party where we kissed and he wanted me to go back to his but I didn’t feel it that night. He was really sweet, he told me it’s totally fine you don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with. Anyway that was a few weeks ago now, we’ve not really seen each other but we have kept texting. I messaged him something slightly flirty out of the blue the other day, bit awkward because he didn’t respond, it said he’d seen it though. And he invited me to his half birthday party last week, but when I turned up it was too busy, I didn’t know anyone else there because they’re all much older and more hipster and then I left because I felt so awkward and his phone was switched off so I couldn’t call. But then today I saw him and he gave me the biggest, warmest hug? So, what does everyone think? I’m really confused. Bump. TL;DR.
graphic art by / TOBY MARSH
mixed media by / MARY VANCE
By Joshua Bluteau HYDRA A jaundiced moon stared unwilling down Casting sickness into the shadows of lupine twilight Now A pale sherbet lemon Hangs in the sky In the dark A cadmium mist descends As it did when we first met, and you terrified me But I have never felt safer, than when you held me naked in your arms Through night, knife and needle we went to save his dreams Thoughts putrefied Coffined lust exiled in cruel famine Bayed at the moon Forgotten the warmth of springtime flesh Depraved narcissist vied with deprived nihilist To feast in that torn hollow Couture riddled with bullet holes As cigarette ends tore buttonholes Corsage bourn in black Cortege Broken umbrellas cry in the corner Abandoned Gay abandon eaten in the dust Where I have seen things That men only thought they saw in dreams
photography by / JOSHUA BLUTEAU
photography by / SAGE LANCASTER
illustration by / MIRANDA BURNETT STUART
“If the moon smiles she resembles you. You leave the same impression of something beautiful, but annihilating.� Sylvia Plath Degeneration is the process of decline and disintegration; of things falling apart. At times degeneration is easy to see in our world, in the broken buildings we see around us, in the process of aging and death. It is too easy to focus on the negativity of degeneration, making us feel despondent, depressed and isolated. Yet there is beauty in decay and in destruction. Within this there is always hope and optimism, the possibility of rebirth and regeneration; of creating something new, beautiful and shocking.
illustration by / ANNA STEINMANN
painting by / JOANNA MACDONALD
scratch etching by / irfan ahmed
LETTER FROM FASHION With our new fashion section we are aiming to highlight the inherent artistic and creative nature of an industry that is often presented as simply vapid, calculating, and the antithesis of intellectual stimulation. Fashion provides a major source of inspiration and embodies much of what we love about art, and we hope to be able to similarly inspire others. Fashion is an art form that we interact with on a day-to-day basis—we wrap ourselves in patterns, play with shapes and form structured combinations simply by deciding how get dressed in the morning. Aspects of design, colour, and line all play integral parts in what we wear and why we wear it. We want to explore this idea, as well as others, by exhibiting strong aethetics, talking to individuals, and discussing aspects of the industry, not only in St Andrews but beyond. In this way we hope to offer a dynamic platfrom for this medium to be explored and enjoyed in a different, and hopefully more substantial, way. Make sure to stay tuned with ST.ART’s fashion section on our website, we are excited to see what you think and expand this conept further. So, JOIN THE CREATIVE
CREDITS photography Toby Marsh LONDON COLLECTIONS: MEN QUASIMI HOMME AW13
LONDON MENS COLLECTIONS: AN INTRODUCTION
By Joshua Bluteau January saw the first ever London Fashion Week specifically championing and celebrating the quality and diversity of men’s fashion. Rather enigmatically entitled ‘London Collections’, a great number of shows take place in venues both large and intimate all over the capital, and has been almost unanimously been hailed as a triumph. Especially lauded with praise were two of Britain’s most famous fashion houses, Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood, showing the world exactly why Britain is becoming something of a centre for menswear. The Alexander McQueen show was, as always, a stellar reminder of the beauty of that particular ‘McQueen cut’. A gorgeous mix of suiting and coats, carried by an increasingly androgynous set of slicked haired models, somehow blending 60’s chic with a rather more dangerous aesthetic of the alien outsider. Subtle subversion was championed as always through the manipulation of fabric especially the red and black overcoats and chalk stripe suits, with panels of stripes in different directions. The almost entirely double-breasted nature of the tailoring showed that it can be a fantastic variation on the suit; a garment that we tend to see having increasingly limited permutations. The Vivienne Westwood installation at Harrods by way of a preview to the Milan show later in January was another example of the exceptional strength of British brands’ exhibit in terms of menswear. A huge sculpture of detritus and discarded car parts (aptly named ‘Rustang Sally’) was littered with starkly dressed models was the perfect introduction to Westwood’s CLIMATE REVOLUTION campaign, and a nice
manipulation of installation art used in conjunction with fashion. In an industry that is swamped by the perennial female catwalk, it is refreshing to give men’s fashion the attention it deserves, which is exactly what ‘London Collections’ achieved. The city’s emergence as a bastion of fantastic quality and diversity, especially due to the excellent work of top British designers, makes it an exciting place for the growth of menswear’s influence on the fashion world.A Monstrous Sole-Fantich & Young’s “Apex Predator” Shoes Fashion and status are inseparable, especially for those at the top of the economic and stylistic food chain. What one wears and whom they identify as can become so intertwined, it can almost seem as though clothing has the ability to take on human characteristics and a personality of their own. Mariana Fantich and Dominic Young, the pair of artists who comprise the collection of Fantich & Young, play with this idea in their “Apex Predator” series. In the two most striking pieces of the series, the duo uses two pairs of black shoes, Barker Oxfords for men and Jimmy Choo stilettos for women, and completely covers their soles in teeth from human dentures. The effect is as unsettling as it is visually striking, with the shoes becoming animalistic, powerful, and vaguely threatening. Fantich & Young harshly contrast of the shiny black leather and sleek design with the white teeth in a way that mimics the overal juxtaposition of material luxury and organic humanity. The result, however, seems more monstrous than human.
CREDITS all images sourced from wonderlandmagazine.com featured artist ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
By Vanessa Krooss
APEX PREDATOR Fashion and status are inseparable, especially for those at the top of the economic and stylistic food chain. What one wears and whom they identify as can become so intertwined, it can almost seem as though clothing has the ability to take on human characteristics and a personality of their own. Mariana Fantich and Dominic Young, the pair of artists who comprise the collection of Fantich & Young, play with this idea in their “Apex Predator� series. In the two most striking pieces of the series, the duo uses two pairs of black shoes, Barker Oxfords for men and Jimmy Choo stilettos for women, and completely covers their soles in teeth from human dentures. The effect is as unsettling as it is visually striking, with the shoes becoming animalistic, powerful, and vaguely threatening. Fantich & Young harshly contrast of the shiny black leather and sleek design with the white teeth in a way that mimics the overal juxtaposition of material luxury and organic humanity. The result, however, seems more monstrous than human.
The title of the project reflects both the aggressive nature of the pieces and its commentary on society, as apex predators are those who do not fear being hunted, as they are at the top of the food chain. This sense of being at the “apex” of society is connoted through the artists’ use of expensive, designer shoes, which have become signs of wealth and status. The addition of the teeth adds the predatorial nature, communicating the viciousness of human greed and materialism, and how these aspects both define and dehumanize us. The visceral nature of “Apex Predator” leaves one with not only a disconcerting feeling, but also a series of questions about society, status, and fashion’s role in deciding or communicating both.
CREDITS all images sourced from fantichandyoung.co.uk featured artist MARIANA FANTICH & DOMINIC YOUNG
Photography by / VEDA KRUGER
Photography by / QI TIAN
Photography by / EMMA CUNNINGHAM
By LORNA CUMMING-BRUCE
KELBURN CASTLE /NOTHING TO SEE HERE
In a sleepy country corner over on the west coast of Scotland, Kelburn Castle is definitely not where you’d expect to find one of the world’s leading examples of street art. The neighbours must have been rather confused when, five years ago, four Brazilian graffiti artists arrived to spray a psychedelic mosaic onto the thirteenth-century castle’s walls. Despite appearances, the event was not a criminal violation but a carefully coordinated scheme. In 2007, experts told the Earl of Glasgow that his home was in need of a face-ift. Facing an expensive replacement of the concrete fronting on the castle’s exterior walls, the Earl’s children suggested the project as a temporary attraction. On condition that the mural remain for a period of three years, Historic Scotland agreed to the project. And so, at a cost of £20,000, one of the oldest castles in Scotland became a canvas for street art upon which was painted a psychedelic series of interwoven cartoons of surreal urban culture. On a building steeped in rural conservative perceptions, this bold and shocking artistic statement received huge media attention. Despite initial remonstrations and fears over degrading the A listed property, the graffiti make-over has given the antiquated castle a new lease of life. Last year the mural was named as among the world’s top ten examples of street art by author and designer Tristan Manco - on a par with Banksy’s work in Los Angeles and the Favela Morro Da Providencia in Rio de Janeiro. Visitors have flocked to see the Brazilian artists’ work and brought with them some much needed financial sustenance. The vivid burst of colour across the castle’s grey concrete walls has not
only made for interesting photographs. In taking the vibrant and often transient art form of Brazilian graffiti art from its urban context and applying it to this castle in the midst of rural Scotland, the scheme has united not only the disparate cultures of rural and urban but also brought together two very different societies from either side of the equator. Artists and organisers lived together in the castle for around a month during the creative process, allowing time to share and explore ideas and culminating in a uniquely collaborative piece of art which challenges public perception of both urban graffiti and the British institution that Kelburn represents. In August 2011 it was reported by newspapers that Lord Glasgow, the castle’s owner, had sought permission to keep the graffiti as a permanent feature. Sadly, the rumours were untrue. Plans remain for the mural to be removed as the concrete walls underneath it must be removed to allow for repairs to the original castle walls. The Earl of Glasgow, Patrick Boyle, whose family has lived at Kelburn for around eight-hundred years was apparently devastated that he would have to remove the graffiti.
CREDITS All images sourced from CHRISRADLEYPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
The very artwork that revitalized the Kelburn must be removed in order to stop disintegration under the surface. The new must be destroyed to prevent the old from decay.
photography by / CELESTE SLOMAN
photography by / SAMMI MCKEE
photography by / MIRANDA BURNETT-STUART
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Anastasia Daukas Maria Facio Lince Veda Kruger Rebecca Prentice Miranda Burnett Stuart Qi TIan Toby Marsh Mary Vance Joshua Bluteau Sage Lancaster Anna Steinmann Irfan Ahmend Emma Cunningham Joanna Macdonald Celeste Sloman Sammi McKee Nicole Horgan Lorcan O’Brien
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joshua Bluteau Vanessa Krooss Rachel Tam Lorna Cumming-Bruce
THE TEAM
nicole horgan / editor in chief bianca howard / managing editor hettie o’brien / creative director katya leibholz / marketing and advertising director ian hoppock / finance director lily moodey / online features editor claire abrahamson / tamar ziff / online features editors eleanor quinn / music editor callum scott / music sub-editor vanessa krooss / fashion editor nazira kassenova / events coordinator elizabeth panton / ass.events coordinator kelly diepenbrock / nefeli piree iliou / photography editors anna gudnason / photography sub-editor yasmin drakes / rose pallone / sponsorshi theo weiss / charlotte coote / katherine devon williams / chris govier / sarah pol lorna cumming-bruce / annie cornwell / im callum scott / vanessa kroos / featured w
ip managers georges / graphic designers llock / lizzie gow / events team mmy guest / rachel tam / writers
Photography by / LORCAN O’BRIEN
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