Fine Artist shortlisted
for Platform Graduate Award 2022

Fine Art graduate Zayd Menk has been selected for this year’s Platform Graduate Award and exhibition.

06 Oct 2022

Established by the Contemporary Visual Art Network South-East in 2012, the competition supports emerging artists to further their practice after graduation.

Zayd is one of 12 shortlisted artists and will have his work on display at Aspex Portsmouth Gallery from this Friday (7 October) to 23 December.

“I feel grateful and honoured to be selected as one of the final artists. This is a phenomenal opportunity,” said Zayd. “Awards like this allow me to gain experience and open doors to new opportunities.”

Zayd will be showing his sculptural installation of electronic waste called [4.０⌂I� ̱ ̜ ͕ ͙ ͍ ̠̒ ̏ΙO�̖̪̣͕̜̘̅̓̕'"_- . It’s an evolving installation of technological components grappling with the intangibility of invisible data we’re constantly emitting and brings awareness to technological waste and its ecological impacts.

“The concept was to create a somewhat satirical scene depicting an esoteric workspace, which critiques the many stains that technological progress leaves behind. Almost all the materials used have been discarded or thrown away as waste. It is somewhat interactive, utilising screens, live video, and real-time capturing of Wi-Fi network data from unsuspecting audience members to reveal various Wi-Fi networks their phones or devices have been previously connected to.”

The winner, who will receive a £2000 bursary and 12 months of mentoring support, will be announced at the exhibition preview on Thursday (6 October). 

To learn more about studying Fine Art at UCA, visit the course pages. 

To attend the exhibition preview click here.