Aimhigher - Aspirational Structures

Hawkley Hall High School, Wigan

Year 8 students worked with the textile artist, Angela Cusani-Turner to create a range of personal structures that reflect discussion and reflections about the shape and purpose of their lives. Students worked with collage material that was carefully chosen to reflect ideas about directions that they would like to take in life.

The group began the work by considering the idea that they would design a vessel that was to be symbolic of their aspirations. The vessel form represents ideas about themselves - containers full of hopes and ambitions. The young people created shapes that encapsulated a sense of themselves, their interests and qualities. They aimed to create shapes and structures that reinforced a sense of aspiration. These were then collaged and painted using bold patterns to convey a feeling of celebration. Maps and locations convey an atmosphere of excitement, suggesting the planning of a journey and the anticipation of traveling.