Didsbury Summer Open - Isra's story

The exhibition, for me, came at a good time, as it was when I started to hate creating art, studying and work as I inched ever closer to my A-level exams. Every time I'd have fun making something to blow off steam, I'd always feel guilty afterwards - it wasn't going to help me pass my exams, after all. However, this exhibition meant that my smaller, useless pieces could actually mean something and get me somewhere.

During this time, one of my favourite things to do that wasn't working was recreating album covers (artwork, record, sleeves and all), in miniature form, out of cardboard and markers. This was inspired by artist Scott Christian Sava, who'd made his own mini album cover art recreations on YouTube, and it coincided with my love and discovery of bands and music. I loved making tiny albums so much, that I even started giving them to friends as small gifts.

Delivering it to the exhibition was a nice experience too - everyone there was very nice and accommodating, keeping our art safe, and appreciating it too. When I got to seeing the exhibition myself, I not only got to see everyone else's unique and incredible art, but I also got to see my own piece - my own tiny little album recreations - very nicely displayed in a glass case alongside the other artwork. I even got to see people stop and take a look at my work.

It was a great experience for me, and it didn't stop there. My work and the people who made this exhibition also helped me to make connections and talk to a few other artists and curators, which will help me a good amount, I think, in making a start in the art industry myself. So, for all of that, I couldn't be more glad that I made the decision to enter. 

Isra Mubashar