Assessors
The Yellow Book, The University of Nottingham Physics & Astronomy Yellow Book & Sounds Inspired
A huge thank you to all of the assessors for The Yellow Book, The University of Nottingham Physics & Astronomy Yellow Book & the Sounds Inspired project. find out more about them below and visit their websites.
“Professor Shearer West CBE is the seventh President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, taking up office on 2 October 2017.
Professor West is a Professor of Art History and has held a number of significant leadership roles in universities and higher education. She obtained her BA degree in Art History and English at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, and her PhD in Art History at St. Andrews.
Professor West has authored and edited many articles and nine books including Portraiture, The visual arts in Germany 1897-1940: Utopia and Despair, and Fin De Siecle: Art and society in an age of uncertainty. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, the Higher Education Academy and the Royal Historical Society, and has held two visiting Fellowships at Yale University.”
Website – Professor Shearer West CBE
“I think of photography as both an art, and a science and I’m always curious and am asking questions to see if I can make new discoveries visually.
Having studied Mathematical Physics and also worked in a seed library assisting researchers gives me a deep insight and curiosity into how the world works – including the technicalities of photography. When I first began making images the craft of photography took on the purpose of an outlet which helped me gain confidence and manage effects of Asperger’s Syndrome along with anxiety.
I have been recognised through the Nottingham Young Creative Awards, and chosen for exhibition alongside nationally recognised photographers with the Connected exhibition series. With the help of the Princes Trust I’ve gone into business to share the joy of my creative expression and collaborate with creative organisations and brands which help them communicate the exciting things they do and make with their audiences.”
Website – Lamar Francios
“Dr. Ulrike Kuchner followed both of her passions and (simultaneously) studied Astrophysics at the University of Vienna, as well as Fine Arts (Paintings) at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria, where she was born and raised. Today, after Masters and Ph.D. degrees have taken her across the globe, she is an astronomer as well as a visual artist, currently based in the UK, where she works as a post-doctoral researcher for the University of Nottingham.
In her scientific research, she studies how mass is assembled in the Universe and how galaxies form and evolve over their lifetime. As an artist she operates where art, culture, and science intersect, using both backgrounds to find interdisciplinary answers to overarching questions.
Her art often deals with the themes of humanity and imperfections in data, something we tend to strip away from science. She also joins and researches the creative process of other art-scientists and science-artists as curator and mentor, translating between the fields without imposing a hierarchy.”
Website – Dr. Ulrike Kuchner
“Dr Xenia Pestova Bennett is an innovative musician and educator. Described as “a powerhouse of contemporary keyboard repertoire” (Tempo), “stunning” (Wales Arts Review), “ravishing” (Pizzicato) and “remarkably sensuous” (New Zealand Herald) in the international press, she has earned a reputation as a leading interpreter of uncompromising repertoire alongside masterpieces from the past.
Xenia’s commitment to promoting music by living composers has led her to commission dozens of new works and collaborate with major innovators in contemporary music. Her recordings of piano duo works by John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen are available on four CDs for Naxos Records.
Her solo recording for the Innova label titled “Shadow Piano” was described as a “terrific album of dark, probing music” by the Chicago Reader. Xenia’s own compositions are available on Diatribe and TakuRoku. Her album “Atomic Legacies” features Ligeti Quartet and the Magnetic Resonator Piano, while EP “Atonal Electronic Chamber Music for Cats” explores vintage synthesizers. She teaches at the University of Nottingham.
Website – Xenia Pestova Bennett
“My name is Subin Saji. Here is a little about me.
I’m a twenty-one year old, 3rd year Physics with Astronomy Student at the University of Nottingham. I’m also the President of PhysSoc, Nottingham’s one and only Physics Society! If we have a conversation, it usually gravitates towards the exiting topics of rockets, electric cars and space exploration!
When I’m not studying…
I enjoy hiking in the great outdoors and seeing beautiful landscapes. During the evenings I become an avid runner, usually wearing barefoot/minimalist shoes. I’m also a big foodie, powered mostly by plants and olive oil. I’ve also perfected my own hummus recipe!
I run two podcasts; Student Hustle & The PhysSoc Podcast, which I co-host with my friends. I enjoy being surrounded by lots of people and thrive in a social atmosphere.
I also love the art of photography and videography. At any given time I am carrying a GoPro camera! Sometimes make funny YouTube videos.
Late in the evening, I like to read books like Born to Run and Atomic Habits.”
Website – The PhysSoc Podcast
College & Young Peoples Assessors
“Working closely with rethinkyourmind Emma’s passion for wellbeing and Mental Health has led to creating pieces for the Yellow Book project and video artwork led by the winning entries for the ‘I Feel Better When’ campaign. Her latest project ‘Respire’, saw live artwork being created in public spaces, commissioned by Arts Council England, the University of Leicester, Leicester City Council and Kenilworth Arts Festival. These artworks explored Health and Wellbeing coming out of lockdowns, prompted by the idea of ‘Respire: recovery, hope, courage and strength after a period of difficulty.”
Website – Emma Fay
“Gillian McFarland is a visual artist and registered art therapist, working with different processes and collaborators across disciplines. Her practice includes working with glass blower, Graeme Hawes, Textile artist Ruth Singer and interdisciplinary artists in the Netherlands, Daniela de Paulis and Collette Rayner. She exhibits internationally and is a member of the LSA, elected council member of the Scottish Society of Artists (SSA), Co/ director of City Glass Studios and the mental health charity Bright Sparks.”
Website – Gillian Adair Mcfarland
“My paintings are often described by others as romantic and melancholy. Flowers are the constant subject of my art, and above all, my passion lies in painting peonies the national flower of China reflecting my deep love and nostalgia for the country of my birth.
Among all the different styles of Chinese painting, I like gongbi the most its fine and elegant strokes are perfect for portraying the delicate beauty of flowers. However, the extreme delicacy and meticulousness required in the gongbi technique also makes itself a test of patience and spiritual equilibrium such qualities are now rare to see in fast-paced modern society. I take joy from this trial every time when I paint, and experience it as a self-meditation, as a quiet respite from a hectic modern life. The traditional Four Treasures of the Study used in Chinese painting brush, ink, paper and ink stone creates a tangible atmosphere of Chinese culture no matter where I am. I feel I am on a life long mission to introduce classical Chinese art and culture to the world.”
Website – Siyuan Ren
