Words by: Emily Jane Craft
A recent graduate in Graphic Design from Sheffield Hallam has won the chance to make his mark on the HUBS building.
21-year-old Sachin Limbachia was the winning entrant for a competition run by the Hallam Union who were looking for a student to design and apply a wall mural to one of the HUBS outside walls.
One of the competitions judges; Hallam Union’s Community Development Officer, Katy Jenkinson said: “We wanted something that would brighten the wall up, something that portrayed what Hallam Union represents and what it means to students. Sachin’s entry was perfect. The theme for his proposal was life, possibility and dreams, something that we as a union aim to support.”
Sachin fended off fierce competition from other entrants and was ultimately thrilled to have been selected as the winner. “I was right chuffed, really pleased, I have always wanted to do something like it. I entered the competition because I thought why not leave a little mark. It’s a way of saying goodbye to Sheffield, my second home.”
Raj Lilli, Max Lawrence, Lewis Simpson, Simon Fisher and Sachin Limbachia (bottom right) took two weeks to complete the mural.
Sachin from Leeds, is currently working as a Digital Media Designer for Fusion Universal in London, and said that music and culture are key influences to his work: “The style of my mural piece is surreal; from end to end it tells a story. I want people to interpret it in their own way. The mural features influences of African and Indian art with tribal patterns. There is not an overriding theme, I just want people to all interpret it differently.”
Katy Jenkinson said the Union felt it was important for the person doing the piece to be a student, rather than a commissioned artist. “We want to give students the opportunity to develop and progress skills. Sachin had never done a project of this scale before, but with the help of other students, he finished the piece and its better than we could have expected.”
Having graduated in November and securing a job after a summer placement, Sachin found himself travelling in and out of London to work as the project was ongoing: “We were time constrained anyway, but I was pretty stressed trying to sort out a house in London at the same time. I had a really good team on hand to help me and couldn’t have done it without them.” Students Raj Lilli, Max Lawrence, Lewis Simpson, Simon Fisher, Sherlock Chai and Peggy Zhang all joined Sachin over the two week period, to help complete the mural, which spans across the back of Hubs, facing towards the science block of the city campus.
Katy Jenkinson said the Union wants this legacy to continue and will soon be hosting an Art exhibition called Fabricate featuring the works of Hallam students: “To coincide with ‘Student Week’ in February, we will be running an art exhibition at the Millennium galleries. Last years’ exhibition attracted 800 visitors in one week.”
“Murals and projects such as the one Sachin completed is a way of demonstrating to employers a practical and tangible skill as well as a
level of commitment, qualities vital for student entering the job market.”
Interested in getting involved with Fabricate Hallam student art exhibition? Contact Katy on or download the application form from http://hallamunion.org/arts-culture/student-week/
