An exciting exhibition entitled Signifier / Signified kicks off this evening, Thursday, January 24 at the James Barry Exhibition Centre, CIT, Bishopstown.

While there are many exhibitions taking place right across the city, Signifier / Signified is notable for the fact that the artists on display are emerging students at the highly regarded Crawford College of Art & Design, a veritable hotbed of raw talent.

Steeped in a rich history, that stretches back over 200 years, the Crawford is widely regarded as one of the most respected art colleges in the country and its ex-alumni reads like a veritable who's who of Irish artists, spanning a whole range of artistic mediums including Fine Art, Ceramic Design, Art Therapy and Art & Design Education.

Signifier / Signified showcases the work of the 3rd yr students at the College and proceedings will be opened by Rene Zechlin, curator at the Glucksman Gallery UCC. The exhibition, which will run for three weeks, is the first collective showing from this group of students. The title Signifier / Signified (Sr/Sd) might suggest a sign of what's to come from this group of emerging artists.

A selection of Painting, Sculpture, Print, and multi-media including video and sound will be on show to engage with the viewer. It's a unique opportunity to see a wide range of affordable art. The charms of the individual mediums are said to be captured in a very colourful and inspirational way in this body of work.

Painting is a major component of the show, and within this category one can feast one's eyes on some exciting colours, textures and movement. A selection of abstract pieces complement the representational work on display. One could say that Sr/Sd is a multi-cultural show including work from Thai, Turkish and Polish as well as Irish students. The sculptural pieces are quite playful and video is integrated with alot of imagination.

Nora Buttimer, an exhibiting artist at Sr/Sd says, "Setting up this exhibition has been of great benefit to the 3rd yr students as a lot of practical and contextual issues were encountered, as is to be expected in the presentation of any contemporary art show. Challenges with respect to the selection and display of individual pieces arose as a common theme did not exist. The show consists of one piece per student with their own uniqueness of concept and medium, but collectively represents the diversity of art practice in the college.

"It is perhaps fitting at this point to give somewhat of an overview of the Fine Art degree programme at the Crawford College. It is very much part of the vibrant artistic community in the city and surroundings, where the same passion for creative expression through the many art forms being studied at the college is shared by both staff and students alike. A degree in Fine Art is a three year programme with the facility to go on to 4th year to complete an honours degree. At this point a very high standard is expected where the emphasis is on original work and a research thesis usually having an association with the studio work.