Page 137 of The Examiner

Jonathan chose to make a PowerPoint sales presentation featuring his photography, which for me indicates that his role as leader of the final project is taking its toll. My theory was borne out by the subject matter he chose: funeral photography, a business he has no intention of starting. His images depict graves, churches, coffins and hearses. I asked how these represented his MA journey and he said, ‘They don’t. Sights don’t exist that would ever illustrate that.’ When I explained I’d have to mark him down and suggested that he resubmit, he made no effort to do so. Instead he said funerals will be a thing of the past one day and his work will be considered a historical document. Grade: C

Alyson Lang

Busy with the final project and her own high-profile commissions, Alyson proved unable to submit anything for Assignment Six. However, I hope to receive a special-consideration form to this effect and have marked her based on previous work. Grade: A

Ludya Parak

Ludya created a social-media campaign for her existing design business. I would have liked her to venture out of her comfort zone, but she chose only to update her existing website with a few images from the work she’s produced on this course. Her submission was accompanied by a special-consideration form that requested I take into account her childcare issues and matters of a personal nature that she didn’t wish to divulge. Without the form, I would have marked her assignment with a D. Grade: C

Cameron Wesley

Despite ongoing ill health, Cameron managed to submit a new CV and an oil-on-canvas piece depicting a seed germinating, unfurling, growing and budding. A very beautiful image to illustrate how the course has reconnected him to the important things in life. His progress on this course has been exponential and he is by far the most-improved student, demonstrating the value of this MA for corporate professionals hoping to build on their skills, expand their awareness and connect with the mental-health benefits of exploring their creativity. Grade: A

Jem Badhuri’s Doodle Diary, 18 May 2024:

So at some point I’ll turn my diary entries into a long essay, but first: document what happened today. According to Google, Alyson works in a flexible studio space in Guildford. It’s called ReMerge because it’s on the site of an old industrial building. Finding that out was easy; my main task was to convince Dad to take me there, so I approached it with the angle that this new space for creative professionals is the thing to see right now. Going there to experience it for myself will improve my result by, oh, at least a grade. He could always stop off at restaurants in the area and scout for clients.

So this morning we set off. Dad refuses to use the M25 and took the scenic route. For other people that might mean passing landmarks, but for Dad it means pointing out all the restaurants that don’t have a genuine Tandoor oven. Or at least that’s how it seems.

I try to prepare Dad for me visiting ReMerge alone, but it ends in complete embarrassment. I say, casually, ‘You wait in the car, Dad. It’s best I go in. That way I can get talking to other young people without a Boomer in tow.’ He goes silent and I can tell he’s not happy. ‘Is it a boy, Jem? Because if you have to chase a boy to Guildford, he’s not worth it.’ I hesitate for a sec, in case that might be a better lie to tell, but explain that I’m looking for the workspace a fellow MA student uses – a girl. I’m here to look for a girl.’ I don’t think Dad knows lesbians exist, because this reassures him immediately. ‘You’re special to me and you need someone extra-special, Jem. I don’t want you to get hurt.’ We drive the rest of the way in silence. OMG, how embarrassing. However, eventually we arrive.

So ReMerge is a large, echoey space with clean air and people who seem to be wandering about in bare feet. Dad stays in the car, but I know he parks so that he can see me inside. They have no front desk. I walk in and stop, but no one asks what I’m doing there. Finally a young man breezes past and I stop him with an ‘Excuse me, can someone help?’ It makes me cringe. I hate that word.

There’s a flurry of activity as I’m passed from one resident artist to the next. Typically, they all cite someone else as a better person to help, but finally I’m taken to Alyson Lang’s ‘space’.

There’s no security here at all. What if I was here to steal her corporate clients? Damage her work? Anyway I’m shown to a chair, and the vague girl with rattling bracelets who has brought me the final distance says she ‘thinks’ Alyson is in, and if she can find her, she will tell her I’m here. She doesn’t even ask my name.

Ding a text from Dad to see if I’m OK. I go to reply, but there are footsteps behind me. Unfamiliar footsteps.

‘Hello, I’m Alyson Lang. Can I help?’ An unfamiliar voice, or is she just on her best behaviour?

‘Alyson? It’s me, Jem. I was passing with my dad and thought I’d drop in to say hi.’

‘Sorry, do I know you?’

It was her all right. Alyson Lang, professional artist and rising star of 2013. Only it wasn’t the mouthy golden girl with the flexible approach to marriage that I’ve been on a course with for the last eight months.

Doodle message group [Private] Jem and Gela, 20 May 2024:

Jem Badhuri

There’s something I need to talk to you about.

Gela Nathaniel

I’ll be in the studio all day tomorrow.

Jem Badhuri

I’d rather do it over Doodle, so there’s a record of our conversation. Just in case.

Gela Nathaniel

Fire away.

Jem Badhuri

I don’t believe Alyson is working on a big-bucks commission. It’s my calculated guess that something happened to her in Somerset.