Adya Jalan

A transformative experience 

The BA in History of Art opened up entirely new ways of seeing, deepening my understanding of visual cultures and its power in shaping society. It transformed my perspective on art and greatly influenced my growth as a researcher and museum practitioner.

I was constantly encouraged to think critically and embrace my passion for South Asian visual cultures. I enjoyed the holistic nature of this course, from engaging with traditional art history concepts to exploring postcolonial and contemporary perspectives.

Diverse modules and supportive expert academics

The diversity of the modules allowed me to explore the wider cultural and political contexts of various visual forms such as architecture, fashion, design and painting. Curatorial and design modules taught by Dr Catherine Hahn and Dr Jorella Andrews shaped my interest in museum studies and material culture.

I also feel incredibility grateful for the support of my dissertation supervisors Dr Janna Graham and Dr Bridget Crone - their knowledge and guidance have had a huge impact on my personal and professional growth.

Community archive project and exhibition

A particular highlight of my time at Goldsmiths was doing a Decolonising Project Internship at the Goldsmiths Archives and Special Collections where I curated my first community archive project and exhibition.

Through these projects, I responded to some of the radical collections within the archives at the height of racial and systemic injustice in 1980s Britain.

The exhibition was focussed on the life and work of Rita Keegan, who co-founded Copy Art in 1984, a resource and education space for communities and artists navigating emerging technologies of computers and photocopiers, while using it to create art and radical resources.

The exhibition featured Copy Art collages from artists and community groups.

Read Adya’s blog about the exhibition.

Life after Goldsmiths

After Goldsmiths, I completed an MSc in Visual, Material & Museum Anthropology at the University of Oxford, where I critically examined the representation of South Asian religious objects in museums drawing on ethnographic and community research.

Currently, I'm working at the Victoria and Albert Museum as a Research Assistant for an upcoming exhibition on contemporary South Asian creativity. Prior to this, I was a Youth Advisor at Historic England and held research roles within Higher Education. 

Advice for future students

Come with an open mind and make the most of your time here. Don't be afraid to pursue your interests and experiment.

Network and create opportunities for yourself like starting a blog or collaborating with local artists, communities and museums. Take up space!

Strong sense of community and enriching London life

New Cross has a strong sense of community. I learned a lot about the local histories and stories of resistance that shaped the way I thought of and saw the world.

The easy access to galleries, libraries and museum collections across London really enriched my experience as a student.