Degree Show 2026
Marcus Hills
BA Art and Design
Hills’ practice explores relationships between human and nonhuman beings through speculative and humorous artefacts. In designing and making these objects Hills interrogates the extent to which we as humans acknowledge our entanglement with nonhuman actors be it soil or satellites. He aims to provide a space for audience’s to reflect on their own attitudes towards the organic and digital nonhuman beings we live alongside and invite further imagination about how these relationships could be different.
‘Soil Gazing Bench’ – This sculptural piece of furniture aims to shift the users attention to the overlooked and unexplored earth beneath our feet, offering a place to reflect on our entangled lives and commune with lost loved ones once more.
‘3D Printed Maquettes’ – These three maquettes reflect the formal refinement of my bird listening installation. These were designed using Shapr3D and allowed me to explore a variety of styles and construction techniques before building the final installation.
‘New Ways of Listening’ – This installation invites viewers into a shelter inspired by the nests of the Weaver Bird, and listen to a soundscape exploring how A.I might allow us to translate birdsong into music that we may empathise with. This piece aims to prompt viewers to consider the extent to which A.I mediates our experince of the world while exploring the potential ecological opportunities it may offer.