Week 10&11 (tri 2) - Exhibition Setup and The Show Itself

Today was finally the day we headed down to the basement to start setting up our exhibition space! The show was scheduled to open on the 8th of April, but we decided to set everything up a few days early to make sure there was enough time to fix any last-minute issues. It was one of those tasks that sounded simple in theory, but ended up being pretty tiring in practice, especially when it came to hauling all the Mac computers downstairs for the video pieces, along with the pedestals they would sit on. It was tedious and heavy work, but honestly, there was something exciting about seeing it all slowly come together.

My own setup for the exhibition was quite simple, but I still felt proud of how it turned out. I chose one of the Macs in the long corridor and loaded my video essay onto it. To make the experience more personal and immersive, I borrowed a pair of headphones from Media Services so people could listen closely without all the background noise. I wanted the viewing experience to feel intimate, almost like having a quiet conversation.

For a little extra personal touch, I brought in some post it notes and wrote out small phrases from my video, little quotes that felt important or emotional to me. I stuck them up around the Mac as a kind of soft decoration, hoping they would catch people’s eye and make them curious. I also printed out a QR code that linked directly to the YouTube version of my video, so if anyone wanted to revisit it later, they could do so privately.

The Viewing

The viewing day finally arrived, and honestly, it was such a wonderful experience. A few of my course mates brought in snacks and even some wine, which made the atmosphere feel really welcoming and celebratory. It wasn’t just an exhibition, it felt more like a gathering, like a little community coming together to appreciate what we had all worked so hard on.

Some of my friends had also made these beautiful leaflets that guided visitors through the exhibition, explaining each piece and offering little insights into everyone's work. It really tied everything together and made it feel so professional. Seeing visitors walking around with the leaflets in hand, stopping by each setup and taking their time, was genuinely so satisfying.

One of the best surprises was seeing some of the third years show up to view our exhibition. It felt amazing to reconnect with them after so long. It was like a mini reunion in the middle of all the excitement. There’s something really special about having people you admire come and support your work.

I was incredibly nervous about how my own piece would be received. I kept worrying that maybe no one would resonate with my story, or that it would just get passed by. But to my surprise, and relief, that wasn’t the case at all! Watching people gather around, put on the headphones, and really engage with the video felt surreal in the best possible way. It’s hard to describe, but there was this quiet, validating moment of "Okay, it was all worth it."

One of the highlights of the evening was having a really meaningful conversation with our course lead, Tina. She sat down with me for a while and shared her thoughts about my work in such a thoughtful and heartfelt way. It wasn’t just polite feedback, it felt genuine and personal, and it meant the world to me.

Another little thing that made me so happy was seeing that people actually used the QR code I had printed out! A few people told me they saved the link to watch again later, and I even noticed a few new subscribers pop up on my YouTube channel afterward, including Tina herself! That tiny detail made me feel so appreciated and seen, like the little extra steps I took actually mattered.

At the end of the night, I just felt so relieved and so grateful. It was a long and sometimes stressful journey to get here, but standing in that space, surrounded by kind words, smiling faces, and the knowledge that my work connected with people, made every bit of effort completely worth it.