Vasilis Moschas

A joyful and thought-provoking experience 

I enjoyed every moment of the MA Contemporary Art Theory, even when I was struggling to write the essays.

I loved the seminars, where the depth of knowledge shared with us filled me with joy and curiosity, sparking thought-provoking conversations.

Studying part-time gave me the opportunity to engage with a wide range of subjects and perspectives. I tried to audit as much as possible because I saw this opportunity for learning as once in a lifetime.

I also enjoyed the teach-outs during strikes, where the informal setting created an alternative form of learning, generously organised by our tutors.

The public lectures were often compelling, and the drinks afterwards offered an opportunity to meet and chat with fellow students and tutors.

Knowledgeable and supportive tutors 

I felt incredibly lucky to work under the supervision of my tutors, Dr Catherine Grant and Dr Lenka Vráblíková, as well as my dissertation supervisor, Dr Manca Bajec.

Their knowledge was eye-opening, but what made it truly special was their kindness and generosity.

Overall, I was exposed to multiple perspectives and equipped not only with academic rigour but also with the confidence to explore and research further.

Beyond gaining knowledge, I feel I became a better person: more aware of the world and its shifting structures around me.

Life after Goldsmiths 

This autumn, I’ll be starting an AHRC-funded PhD at Northumbria University.

I will examine Newcastle’s photographic Side Gallery as a space of potentiality, where social documentary photography exhibitions counter-narrate and reimagine Northern working-class lives in dialogue with underrepresented and marginalised communities globally.

I look forward to dedicating the next few years to research. Being able to study full-time is a luxury, as I’ve always been working in unfulfilling gallery jobs — before, during, and after my studies.

I would love to work in academia and share the knowledge I gain, just as my tutors did with me.

Advice to future students 

When I started my MA, I worried I wouldn’t be able to finish it. Coming back to education after several years — and with a practice-based BA — I felt unsure about how I’d manage academic research and essay writing.

But with effort and the support of my tutors, I completed my degree and felt a real sense of achievement.

So, I’d encourage students to come with an open mind, take in as much as they can, and not worry too much if things don’t go exactly as planned.

An MA is an achievement, but it’s also a process of learning and discovery. Goldsmiths is particularly open to experimentation, and you just need to find the tutors and modules that suit you.

Video project 

During my MA, I had the opportunity to create video work as part of a module.

In this piece, I explore my uncle’s experience of being lost at sea for five days.

Alongside this story, the work reflects on broader themes of mental health and masculinity, framed through his relationship with the sea.

Favourite spots in South East London 

My favourite places in SE London include the pubs The Ivy House and Skehans in Nunhead, the South London Gallery and Goldsmiths CCA, and the Victorian Nunhead Cemetery, with its beautiful tall trees and cawing ravens perched on their branches.