Etching on collage with pen drawing.

 

Painted response to Monet's painting 'The Gare Saint Lazare (1877)'.

Pen and ink drawing on painted papers.

Monoprint on painted papers, and painting with acrylic paints.

Monoprint.

Peacock feathers, made using ink, emulsion, dyes and bleach. 

Photomontage of photographs.

Monoprint.

Made using collage, ink and emulsion.

Painted response to Picasso's work and development from own photograph of a cockerel.

Further development from previous piece.

Painting of a station in the colour palette of Claude Monet.

Studying architecture at MSA will present me with a depth of knowledge and understanding about architecture as well as offer excellent facilities and opportunities. Furthermore MSA offers professional help through their experienced staff with expertise in architecture. I believe I will be very suited to the environment there and will develop in many ways.

During my recent holiday in Turkey I visited historical buildings. A mosque that was of particular interest to me was the “Aydin Oglu Mehmet Bey Mosque” which was built in 1312-1313. The mosque contained a lot of detail, especially on the window panes and doors. Each door and window pane contained an individual design made from carved wood. However the main attraction of the mosque for me was the pulpit. Made entirely out of carved wood it symbolized all known facts of Math at the time and demonstrated a broad knowledge of geometric shapes. 3,000 pieces of carved wooden shapes were put together without the need of nails or glue. The main shapes on the pulpit symbolized the Earth, the moon and the sun in different positions and proportions to each other, illustrating the Ottomans’ knowledge of astronomy at the time. In terms of the aesthetics of the building, there is no doubt that the mosque is a real work of art. The craftsmanship on every aspect of the building is simply stunning.  Also it is very obvious that the mosque has been built with its function in mind; praying. This is why it offers a wide floor space and special spaces for the Imam to stand. When it comes to the durability, the building is still in use as a mosque 700 years from when it was first built. Made of stone and wood, the building stands tall as if to prove its durability.

Islamic Architecture is very inspirational to me, but I am also very motivated by Daniel Libeskind’s work.  His unique way of looking at buildings and bold display of his ideas is very fascinating. For example, the Jewish Museum in Berlin has been built to tell a story to the world. He talks about the ruins and history of the city being “part of the memory of the city” and therefore we should deal with them in a “constructive way”. This links to my interest in Islamic Architecture from the Ottoman Empire as what we learn from history can influence our design and ideas today.

A work of architecture that I would like to experience is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. As it's the tallest building in the world I'd like to see how its structure withstands the wind and I am very curious about the architectural design in the interior of the structure.