From gender dysphoria to AI satire; Manchester School of Art degree show celebrates the theme Bloom

Manchester School of Art at Manchester Met is celebrating the class of 2025 with its annual Degree Show exhibition, celebrating growth and collaboration with the theme Bloom.

Standout works include an emotionally moving film about foster care, medieval inspired chainmail and a machine that satirises AI.

The exhibition, Bloom, is open to the public and will be on display from 7 to 20 June. It takes place across Lowry, Chatham, Grosvenor, Righton and School of Digital Art (SODA) buildings on Manchester Met’s campus and celebrates the creativity and dedication of this year’s final year students, showcasing work from across Art, Design, Fashion, Digital Arts, Performance and Architecture. 

One of the stand-out pieces is the independent film Spice for Life that was crowdfunded, written and directed by BA (Hons) Filmmaking student, Saleem Miah. It depicts the story of a young man growing up in foster care, who overcomes a cultural divide with his foster parent when they start to cook together. The mother and son pair are played by Adam Hussain (Adi from Coronation Street) and Kirsty Leigh Porter (Lila Lomax from Hollyoaks.)

Saleem said: “Growing up as a British Asian in foster care is not something that is really covered in film or even widely talked about but I think it’s an interesting, uniquely British experience. I grew up in foster care from the age of seven and a lot of the families I was placed with were culturally different to me. It’s one of the main themes of the film and it’s a unique experience but I also think it’s a universal story because it’s about the mother and son relationship, just in an unconventional way.”

Another highlight of the exhibition is the medieval-inspired chainmail by BA (Hons) Product Design and Craft student Astrid Davis. The wearable designs in her project Empower the Dolls are hand-forged from mild-steel and copper using traditional blacksmith techniques.

Astrid said: “Empower the Dolls initially started off with looking at how you can suit up and protect yourself from oncoming attacks emotionally from society. Then, the idea developed into looking at our relationship with our bodies, particularly transfeminine people, and how you can physically cover up to conceal your insecurities and vulnerabilities. I wanted to create a conversation and bring to light the personal everyday struggles of people with gender dysmorphia.

Meanwhile The Art Machine by BA (Hons) Fine Art student, Kit Oisin, prints out an endless loop of art-related jargon. The self-inking, analogue stamp machine is a satiric commentary on generative AI art.

Kit said ” Art Machine is a rumination on my relationship with art, reflecting on my own issues with overproduction while also satirising trendy art writing and generative AI. 

“In a culture that values mass production without risk, The Art Machine may be the ideal artist. Thankfully, the work around it gives a more hopeful view of where we’re headed. What I’m showing is a look at where I’ve been, a vision of where I’m going, and a love letter to the culture I’m in.”

Other highlights of the exhibition include BA (Hons) Interior Design student Molly Wrigley’s community book swap library, The Unseen Network, that is dedicated to connecting people. Molly said: “I have explored the link between loneliness and overconsumption, creating a community book swap library that is dedicated to connecting individuals with each other as well as their environment. It proposes the question, ‘What if we reconnected through reading?’”

 Also exhibited are the striking ceramics by BA (Hons) Fine Art student Amy Bradnock, who has been chosen for the Venice Fellowships Programme. Amy said: “I always want to engage with material with my hands and I think working with clay feels quite personal. I had never used ceramics before I came to Manchester Met so it was quite a new process for me. 

“I’m quite excited. I’ve never shown these larger ceramics to the public before, because they take quite a long time to make.”

Manchester School of Art is the second-oldest art school in the UK and has seen graduates become significant industry figures, including L.S. Lowry, Thomas Heatherwick, Peter Saville and Ossie Clark.

 Professor Martyn Evans, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities said: “I am deeply impressed each year by the creativity and passion displayed at the School of Art Degree Show. 

“The festival really illustrates the commitment our students and staff have for their crafts across the board. This year’s theme, Bloom, is a wonderful descriptor of the colourful display of talent and collaboration we’ve seen for the class of 2025.”

Find out more about the exhibition and how to visit on the Manchester School of Art website