I'm Helen and I've been retired for a few years. I was initially a lawyer
then I had some time at home with my children and then went back to work and
was in public health for a few years. Hi, I'm Max, I'm 30 years old. I live in
Berlin and I'm a law student. I'm Jane and I'm rather older than 33 years old
and I am based in this country but have done a degree in German in the past.
Hi, my name is Chris I'm originally from Shanghai and I did two years of
undergrad studies in philosophy in Fudan University in Shanghai. Right now I'm
pursuing my BA in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics at the University of Birmingham.
I've always been interested in arts and culture and history of art
in general. This is my first summer school in history of art. I've done
summer school on international cultural property law before that in Geneva.
All that I had done was to enjoy art from an early age. When I was at
University I had Athena posters on my walls and just enjoyed going to art
exhibitions and museums and galleries. [Jane] I've always had a passion for art
history. I've been a keen amateur for many years I do have an MA by research
in art history but not from The Courtauld and this is my first
course at The Courtauld ever.
One thing that I specifically like about the summer school at The Courtauld is the
various trips that you've organised which are really enriching and really inspiring.
[Helen] The quality of the teaching is so good and we've got excellent
lecturers, different subjects, so it's all about learning more about art. [Jane] For me personally this is
introduced me to some German artists who I hadn't yet encountered and, as I say,
German art has been a passion of mine for some years so I definitely want to
explore those artists further and if I get a chance to write about them or
research them further then that would be excellent. [Max] Yeah I would definitely be
interested in coming back to The Courtauld. I was interested in the Postgraduate
Diploma. Maybe I'll do that or come back for the summer school that would be great.
From a completely practical level everyone's been amazingly welcoming and
very very efficient and even dare I say very highbrow people like you good
selves have been very friendly and welcoming so it's been a very good
environment to walk into not at all intimidating which many people could
think for the core told ya it's a nice group we are quite a bunch of people
from different backgrounds different interests and it's really nice to share
our different experiences and comment on pictures drawings and just discover
history of art together I'm taking these summer courses at the Courtauld as part
of my personal interest but indeed in the future for a long run I intend to
pursue art history as part of my academic interest if I were to continue
study and work in Gdynia I love the summer school I first came a few years
ago just for one course on symbolism which I had always been interested in
and got hooked and gradually I started going to the courses every summer now I
go for all four weeks, which feels a great indulgence, but unlike a cruise,
it's actually with you forever.