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Graphic Design

Anastasia Arjalies

Originally from Arles, France, Anastasia is an artist and researcher living and working between London and Paris.

During her studies at the RCA, she has developed a critical and research-based practice, focusing on sharing questions about identity and socio-political issues. Her work aims to talk about the relationship between art, culture, human rights, environment and education in order to encourage people to develop their political awareness. She is a researcher, often using archives, materiality and emotions to open up difficult conversations between people.

She is currently part of the programme ‘Passerelles’ run by the French Association Contemporaines (@contemporaines) whose aim is to allow young artists to be put in touch with established artists in support of their early career.


Before her MA(RCA) in Visual Communication, Anastasia completed an MA with Distinction in Graphic Design and Artistic Direction (2018), and a BA in Graphic Design and Printed Media (2015) at École de Condé, Paris. 

She has worked as Assistant to the Art Director at VEJA, Paris (2019) and had 'You are Welcome' — her diploma project questioning the way we welcome migrants in France — published in Étapes magazine No.52.

Anastasia Arjalies

When I arrived in London, I didn’t think I would have such a hard time rediscovering this feeling of belonging. And even more during the lockdown, I found myself looking into my childhood memories in order to feel more comfortable, wishing for a return to my home town. I had lost my safe place and I was stuck in this loneliness. 

I am from Arles in the South-East of France, so I decided to base my work on traditions, craft and culture of the Mediterranean Sea. My two years at the RCA allowed me to develop a practice based on craft as my way to communicate. It was interesting for me to connect my practice with my origins and my childhood memories, in order to talk about heirloom and legacy. I think art has the power to preserve lost voices and this is what I want my work to be about: enabling people to remember and not forget again. Using archiving as an art form and an act of preservation.

If you are interested in seeing more of my project, I will be exhibiting a new piece of work during ‘Terminal’, our Visual Communication event which will be held at the Ugly Duck, Bermondsey, between 27th and 30th June.

In loving memory - visual essay
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'In loving memory' is a visual essay presenting my exploration through the craft and traditions of my native region, Provence, and more broadly of the Mediterranean Sea.

But it is also about the stories I discovered while doing my research and exploring my childhood memories, which have changed my outlook on my region and its history.

Medium:

Video

Size:

10:52
Traditions of the Mediterranean Sea
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'Traditions of the Mediterranean sea' is a video presenting some of the interviews made during my research on this topic.

It is also a video about different people, different stories and different visions of the Mediterranean sea and its history.

Medium:

Video

Size:

9:46

RCA Continuation Fund Bursary