Nele
- From: Munich, Germany
- Studying: MA in History of Art (British Art) (full-time)
What background do you come to HoA from and why HoA?
"I had already studied History of Art as an undergraduate, combined with Archaeology. Since I felt that History of Art was exactly what I wanted to do I continued on this path and I still love it!"
Why York rather than somewhere else?
"York offered the perfect mixture of things I wanted. First of all the university provided a Masters specialising in British Art. Moreover the city itself attracted me through its cultural and historical richness. I was swept of my feet by the city and its fascinating buildings and museums. I also chose York because of its location! It takes about two hours to get to London by train which is perfect for a daytrip! Edinburgh only takes half an hour more, and if you get a railcard (I would strongly advise you to acquire one, it is really easy and definitely worth the money!) it is not too expensive either. Furthermore, there are a lot of other interesting sites around York such as ruined abbeys and castles. York is the perfect starting point for exploring the history of England!"
What are your research interests / what are you working on?
"My research interests are generally quite broad, but I tend to focus mostly on medieval times as this is an area I find particularly interesting. For my Masters dissertation I’m working on early 16th century panel paintings depicting saints and religious motifs that fell victim to the iconoclastic attack of the Reformation."
What modules have been most fascinating and why?
"In general, I hugely enjoyed every module. But one of my favourites was Churches and High Crosses which focused on the art of stone carving in Anglo-Saxon England. I had not worked on this subject before and it was fascinating to learn about the huge number of stone crosses in relation to the rather slight amount of contemporary scholarship on the subject. The module inspired me to carry out my own enquiries on the topic as there is still much more to discover. The other module I really loved was Painting on Light ‒ a module on stained glass. This was another new field for me and new things are always exiting. What I enjoyed most about this module were the series of excursions to local churches, because being able to see the objects you learn about makes studying them easier and more gripping."
What’s been your favourite study trip and why?
"Every trip has been great, but going to Scarborough to see the Pre-Raphaelite stained glass of St Martin-on-the-Hill was absolutely amazing. Not only was the church itself great, but another high point was having fish and chips on the beach!"
What’s the level of support like from staff and the department as a whole?
"I feel in very good hands in this department. The first couple of introductory events made me feel very welcomed, especially because everyone was unexpectedly friendly. There is a strong sense of support from staff. Lecturers treated me as an equal which was very motivating because I didn’t feel I was 'only' a student, but an art-historian."
Are you involved in any society or community-based activity in York outside your studies?
"I have been on several trips with the York Outdoor Society since they go out to the countryside every Sunday and thus it is a really great chance to get out of York and see the scenery around the town, such as the Yorkshire Dales or the North York Moors National Park."
Have you undertaken any work experience during your degree?
"During my master’s degree I have been able to get an internship placement at the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds, as well as a volunteer job for York Art Gallery. Both placements were advertised over the department, which for me was very helpful as it could have been otherwise difficult to find out where work experiences were offered."
What do you feel is the most important thing you will take away from your experience at York?
"Moving out of my comfort zone and being able to study and live here in York are all part of the experience I’ll be taking with me. My self-confidence and personal strength have been boosted during my stay here. This year abroad has also expanded my horizons on an academic level. I think it is very important to escape from your familiar surroundings once in a while and jump into a kind of adventure, with the only definite thing you know at the beginning of it being that you are going to walk out of it with a strong, open-minded character and a suitcase of wonderful memories."
Do you have an idea of how you’ll use your degree/plans for the future
"I would like to carry on to do a PhD or use my degree to get a permanent position in a museum or elsewhere to gain more experience in the art world."
What would your dream job be?
"My absolute dream job would be to manage a small museum or historic site and organise interesting exhibitions for the education and enjoyment of people."
