Sometime last year I read a newspaper report announcing the colour of the Universe. American astronomers had calculated that if all the visible light of the universe were mixed together it would result in a greenish hue halfway between aquamarine and turquoise. I have since learned that they made a mistake and they now believe the colour to be off white like Latte.

At the time of writing thousands of coalition troops are invading Iraq and heading for Baghdad with the intention of over throwing the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. People talk about another Vietnam, another Stalingrad, but at this time we do not know what the consequences of this action will be. It may be clearer by the time of the exhibition, but what is fairly certain is that a major world shaping event is unfolding, following close on the heels of September 11th, the day that changed the world.

Against this background 27 of our students prepare for their final degree show just as thousands of other art students across the country prepare for theirs. And so I can't help wondering if and how such events might impact on the world of art. Or how any event or cultural shift for that matter filters into the consciousness or sub-consciousness of our artists. Of course no one expects artists to go off and suddenly start making work about the war. Things don't happen like that. Rather I suspect that even events of the scale of 9/11 are still only small ingredients in a very complex mix. Eventually the retrospective eye will make connections, and read the subtle influences of one thing on another, but at the time of it's happening it seems far too complicated. It is not the butterfly effect, but rather the opposite. Everything we know goes into the melting pot and emerges as an unpredictable surprise.

So as I cast my mind over the current preoccupations of this years graduating students looking for some underlying worldview or commonality I realise I can't. They are a group of individuals reacting to the world in their own personal way, susceptible to the influences that our constantly changing culture throws up, but unique in the way they process and articulate their experiences. In this exhibition we should therefore congratulate and enjoy the diversity, effort and imagination of 27 individuals. Theirs is a valiant achievement and I with all the staff would like to wish them the very best for the future, and hope that their time at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College has adequately played its part in preparing them for the challenges ahead.

Also at the time of writing I note that it is a beautiful spring day with a clear blue cloudless sky. The sun is warm and the grape hyacinths and anemones are being jostled by a light breeze. Darting in and out of vision insects speed about their business while a pair of long tailed tits sing for attention. The intermittent sound of traffic can be heard from a nearby road and a radio closer to hand annoys the peace.

It is important to acknowledge that the design, co-ordination, and largely the financing of this catalogue has been taken on by the students. In particular I would like to thank the design and fund raising team for the many hours they have put in, often at times when other commitments were calling. On behalf of the whole group, 'you have done a fantastic job'.

Alan Franklin
Course tutor