As The SU we’re always looking for ways to get students involved and this includes putting your own mark on the spaces you use. Last summer, we asked you to Be pART of the ART, to design a mural for the Edge. The winning design would become a paint-by-numbers project for Freshers’ Week for anyone to contribute to.
The aim was of this project was to give students a chance to show their creativity, enhance our physical spaces and bring students together during the induction period.
We had some amazing entries and it was a really difficult decision to choose the winning design. We are absolutely thrilled with the end result and it now has pride of place within the Event Space in The Edge. Huge congratulations to our winner Tania Rawat for her design ‘Quacking Time at The Tub’.
Tania said "My design is a playful take on the various aspects of life in Bath such as the campus, represented by a lake and fountain. The beautiful scenery of the city is shown by the iconic Crescent and hot air balloons. The mural highlights our strong sporting culture with mascot Duck Norris, Varsity and many sporting disciplines we excel in. The importance of the Edge building and range of studios it has to offer is seen with iconography of theatre, dance, music, digital and fine art. The design is outlined with SU letters, showing the values and various spaces to express creativity and practice wellbeing that students are encouraged and supported with. The colours are inspired by the coloured ring around the university logo which has also been incorporated into the design. The space on the right-hand side is for contributors to doodle, write and sign in, representing our large, diverse and inclusive community.” – Tania Rawat
Sarah Williams, SU Community Manager said "The panel were really impressed with Tania's design, it encompassed everything we love about the SU and the student community. Tania's use of colour and the SU values made her design something that will inspire students for years to come".
Students took part in painting the mural during Freshers’ Week and it was such a popular event we finished so much earlier than we thought. The painting captured this through a timelapse which you can see here:
Huge thanks to every student who contributed to the painting and all the students who entered the competition. As it proved to be so popular, and we’re proud to have a student’s artwork hanging in the Edge, keep your eyes peeled later this year for another chance for you to be pART of the ART!
You can see some of the runners-up next to the finished mural in The Edge, but here they are with the descriptions from the artists.
Love From, The Edge
Starting with the SU's iconic geometric branding, I drew inspiration from the love and courageous creativity that The Edge signifies to me. “The regular grid layout reflects organisation and consistency, while larger tiles break free and connect beyond boundaries - just like our community! “Central to the design is love, although “Edge” is also hidden in there too if you look closely.This mural is refreshingly unconventional with this modern twist.” – Jem Clift.
Belong Together
Throughout my first year at Bath I found a community I belong in. I aim to reflect the warm and welcoming atmosphere while representing some of the core values at our university.– Lili Illman
Value Grows Out Of What We Concentrate On
As an unofficial ambassador for the arts and arts education, I wanted to contribute to the Student Union in some way, and the call for designs was my opportunity to do so. Ideas can grow out of research, so the flowers represent the development of minds in a scholarly environment, which is represented by the book. […] This design […] conveys the message of our values of sustainability, diversity & inclusivity, community and wellbeing. – Bonny J Buckley
Best Of Bath
The activities that happen [at] The Edge and [the] community values Bath embodies. Along with the large sport and society scene from the SU, with symbols representing them. – Lily Sky Butterworth
Art-iculate SU 2024
The mural design draws inspiration from Bath's iconic Georgian architecture, such as the Cathedral symbolising history and community. Abstracted elements of these landmarks blend with vibrant colours to reflect the energy and diversity of student life.
Emphasizing the SU values of sustainability, diversity, inclusivity, community, and well-being, the mural showcases unity and creativity. The inclusion of the SU logo and the year '2024' represents our shared journey. I have chosen to include sporting activities along with artistic ones to represent many aspects of student life. – Sylvia Foster
Tour de Bath: The Journey To Graduation
I aimed to show the journey starting when a student arrives at Bath Spa station. They see the beauty of Bath, along with the diversity of the campus, finding Sham Castle, the Library, the Lake, even the Plug and the Tub with the Bathtub, the Edge, the Crescent, as well as many ducks along the way! I included a variety of societies one could get involved with as well as sports, as Bath is known for its sporting culture. Of course, the Library and educational/subject symbols highlight the importance of a growing set of skills during our students' time studying at Bath. Bikes on rail tracks were a fun idea to incorporate the station as well as the concept of a journey through university, all while promoting environmentally sustainable travelling.
The mural took many hours to complete in bits over about a month. It shows that, overall, the journey through studies at Bath is a phenomenal one, and I hope this mural encapsulates the amazing rollercoaster of a student's life here. Finally, the speech bubbles are empty for the students to fill with happy words to make the mural even more interactive and personal. – Asia Burska
Weaving Colours: The Tapestry Of Bath’s Community
My designs are inspired by the vibrant tapestry of life at Bath University, where a rich blend of arts, sports and cultural societies come together to create a unique campus experience. Each element in the mural reflects the diversity and unity within our community- whether it's the lively colours or the different activities. The colours capture the energy and the vibrancy of the campus. The figures are also faceless so people can see themselves in it. I also included a duck, a nod to the familiar sight of everyone gathering around a lake, a shared sense of belonging bringing us together. This mural is a celebration of our university’s bright and collective spirit. – Prashanti Gurupasad
Life By Students
I hope to show how student life manifests through different sorts of activities, advocating what they believe in, and sharing a valuable connection throughout. I presented this in the format of comic panels, to show that in a way students are drawing and creating their own student life, both in the mural content itself and for students working on the mural. – Bridget Tsui
The Edge
Student life involving the arts societies at the edge. Features the Edge building with as many societies as I could fit! Dance Soc, music practice rooms, Music Soc, Fine Art, Filmmaking, Crochet, BUST, BUSMS and Backstage! – Amelia Nichols