Royal Hastings, University of London Multimedia Art MA Final Project

Candidate name: Ludya Parak

Candidate number: 0883481

Where things went right:

Are you kidding me? In hindsight, not much went right, but a lot went wrong while we were frantically trying to make it right. Every solution had a hidden disaster. It was like climbing a ladder, where each rung got you that bit closer to the top, but threw up its own unique problem that nothing on previous rungs prepared you for. We’re supposed to be artists and think outside the box. Jonathan and Patrick supposedly had management experience – they didn’t use it. But at least they stayed the distance.

As you can tell, I’m scratching around to find ways in which this whole thing went right, and all I can say is: the MMAM ( FTP ) course is designed to give individual artists experience of creative teamwork. After Somerset, we had to work together and we had to get creative, so yes to that.

Where things went wrong:

We made components like a production line. It’s the kind of task proper artists get assistants and interns to do. We couldn’t mass-produce them in multiple moulds because we’d promised the client a tunnel that took us through history, and we’d need too many different moulds to be cost-effective. Each one had to be made and finished by hand. If ever there was fuel for OCD , that was it. But as the days went on, I got into it more and more. Mum came down so I could zone out from the kids. I stayed overnight. Surprising how little sleep you get by on, when you have to.

I think because our plans worked at that point, it felt like they would continue to work. But I should’ve seen the bigger picture. If only the voice wasn’t there, hanging over us. That’s what paralysed us, stopped us moving on. I sunk every misgiving I had into a repetitive routine. Alyson did the same. Patrick floated around being quietly useless, but Jonathan … he became obsessed. Not with making the components – that would’ve been too useful – no, instead, he focused on the voice.

Doodle message group [Private] Jem and Patrick, 30 March 2024:

Jem Badhuri

Happy Easter for tomorrow! We don’t celebrate it, except to eat chocolate and cake.

Patrick Bright

Well, I’m in Currys looking for a new freezer before they close for the holiday, so you could say I don’t celebrate it, either. The shop girls gave me a lovely egg and I’ll certainly be eating that later.

Jem Badhuri

Aw, that’s nice. Good luck with your assignment!

To: Gela Nathaniel

From: Griff Technician (Maintenance)

Date: 10 April 2024

Subject: Your MA group

You wanted me to report on their usage of the studio over the threeweek break. As follows:

Jem

one or two days per week

Patrick

three days per week, Tuesday to Thursday, much as normal

Jonathan

two days per week

Ludya

two days per week

Alyson

zero

Cameron

zero