I recently met up with Alex Nelu in the School of Arts, Media, and Creative Technology for coffee and a tour of the New Adelphi Building.
Alex joined the University of Salford in 2016 to pursue his Contemporary Fine Art Master’s Degree and currently manages the Digital Print Studio in the New Adelphi Building. His role enables him to support today’s art and design students, helping them with processes such as fine art digital printing, artwork and film digitisation, and vinyl cutting. He began his career in the creative industries as a photography studio assistant before establishing his own commercial photographic practice in Bucharest, Romania. Outside of work, he is a practicing artist and oversees a small publishing project. Alex has very kindly selected some of his favourite images from the Archive and Special Collections and discussed them in relation to his current role.
“The first image is a great snapshot, capturing either a student’s work in progress or a member of the staff demonstrating a creative process to our alumni. Our Art and Design technical team includes technical demonstrators, technicians and technical assistants. Each offers valuable learning opportunities by closely collaborating with students to enhance their development through specialised skills. Their focus spans various areas including software, equipment, processes, facilities and personalised one-to-one support.
This photograph, dating back to 1935 captures a calico printing laboratory at the Royal Technical College when the institution was located in the Peel Building. The significance of printing processes to Salford and the North of England is unmistakably evident in this image.
Within the Department of Art and Design, we are fortunate to have a diverse array of well-equipped and practical production areas that support a wide range of disciplines. These include 3D and model assembly, book arts, digital print, printmaking, fiber arts, fabric technology and production, darkrooms, photographic studios, audio-visual project spaces, and computer suites. In each of these areas, our experienced staff are readily available to provide technical and digital skills, with a primary focus on enhancing creativity and supporting artistic innovation.
I work as a Creative Technical Demonstrator in the New Adelphi Digital Print Studio, a remarkable learning resource for our students. The studio is equipped with industry-leading tools, including high-quality inkjet archival printers, enabling students to elevate their creativity and produce tangible outputs for their portfolios or exhibitions. Here, they have the freedom to experiment with creative choices while receiving tailored advice from myself and other experienced practitioners on the team. With subsidised materials and cutting-edge equipment investment, students can explore unique opportunities and maintain control over aspects of the creative process that are often outsourced.
While I can only speculate about the events captured in this image from c1920, I’m captivated by the blend of artificial and natural light that has created this highly atmospheric scene. It brings to mind our contemporary printmaking facilities where students have the opportunity to explore traditional printmaking techniques such as etching, woodcut, lino and screen printing. In this creative space, students not only master time-honoured methods but also engage in more experimental hybrid workshops, combining sound or 3D skills with printing. All of this is done under the expert guidance of our technical demonstrators.
I selected this photograph because my initial interpretation differed from the actual description, evoking memories of my time as an MA student conducting research in the Clifford Whitworth Library. Interestingly, I didn’t realise that the person in the picture was involved in bookbinding. This connection resonates with our Book Arts Workshop, as well as the Salford Zine Library. In an era dominated by digital content, these workshops highlight the continued relevance of artist books, zines, and other physical publications. Students not only acquire the technical aspects of bookbinding but also explore the artistic and conceptual dimensions of creating tangible and meaningful publications, highlighting the enduring importance of this age-old craft in a contemporary context.
Every May, the New Adelphi building undergoes a vibrant transformation, becoming a hub that hosts the Degree Show – a culmination of creativity from final-year students across all of the Art and Design courses. This annual showcase event provides students with a platform to present their work through exhibitions, performances, or fashion shows.
As a member of the technical team, contributing to the students’ learning journey throughout their years of study is a fantastic experience. Witnessing everything come together in a brilliant showcase that spans almost every floor of the building is truly rewarding. The show not only highlights the diverse talents and skills of our students but also reflects the culmination of their artistic growth. It’s a celebration of creativity and a testament to Salford’s supportive and enriching environment.
Outside of my role at the University of Salford, I am a photographic artist and creative researcher. Here are a few photographs taken around our fantastic Peel Park campus. The first image captures the Peel Building as seen from Peel Park in 1955. We consider ourselves fortunate to be situated next to this stunning public parkland, complemented by the glorious Victorian architecture of our very own Peel Building, adjacent to the Salford Museum and Art Gallery. This unique blend of the built environment and green space contributes to the inspiring atmosphere that defines our academic landscape at Salford.
During my time studying my MA in Contemporary Fine Art, I was fortunate to share a studio with fellow students in the Peel Building. To my surprise, I discovered an architectural development plan from 1964 that earmarked the Peel Building for demolition. Thankfully, that fate never came to fruition and the building has continued to stand and support our student communities.
Speaking of buildings that are, have been, or are not supposed to be there, this is a great photograph looking northwards from the demolished Chemistry Tower. This tower was wedged for about thirty years between the Peel Building and Museum and Art Gallery. You can see Cockcroft Building and Newton Building clearly, two buildings which are still present and house amazing laboratories such as the anechoic chamber used by the Acoustics Research Centre, who are part of the School of Science, Engineering and Environment. .
I’ll conclude with two images of the Maxwell Hall. The first one is a fabulous photograph shortly after it was built. This historical venue has hosted bands such as Blondie, New Order, The Smiths and U2, and has seen many generations of students walk down the same stage as part of their graduation ceremony.
The last image is taken by me! As part of the University’s 50th anniversary in 2017, I was commissioned to explore and photograph local areas alongside students who were born or raised in Salford. To embed the essence of the place in the photographs, I chose to use water from the River Irwell as part of the darkroom chemistry, mixing it with the film developer. A selection of these photographs has been included in a community engagement book and distributed to the people of Salford who walked with me or contributed to the publication with short texts and poems about the city.
As an international postgraduate student, I was deeply impressed with the technical resources when I started my course. I have benefited from outstanding learning experiences and one-to-one support from the technical team. This support has not only helped bring to life many creative ideas, such as the project above, and shaped the way I produce creative work, but it has also encouraged and inspired me to do the same for the future generation of artists.”
Alex, a HUGE thank you for this great piece.
To see more of Alex’s work, please visit his website:
The 'White Heat' of Modernity 