A student on our MA Contemporary Art and Archaeology course has received the SSA Award from the Society of Scottish Artists 126th exhibition – an amazing achievement!
Susan Pearson, who is based in Whalsay, Shetland, earned the award for her piece Becoming Island, made from locally gathered clay and second-hand yarn. The accolade means an automatic place in the SSA’s 2025 exhibition.
Dr Antonia Thomas, the MA programme leader, said: “I am delighted to see Susan’s artistic talent recognised in such a prestigious, and well-deserved prize. These pieces were developed as part of her MA and represent a highly original and skilful combination of art and archaeology.
“Her influences include not only archaeological theories relating to wrapping-as-metaphor, but also feminist folklore, the philosophical writings of Deleuze and Guattari, and the work of performance artist and sculptor Ana Mendieta. Susan’s clay forms draw upon these contexts but takes them in an entirely new direction, to present a unique and personal exploration of islandness and becoming.”
For more information about the MA Contemporary Art and Archaeology course, click here or email studyarchaeology@uhi.ac.uk
