Art News: Exhibitions at Edinburgh College of Art and Liverpool Arts Hub 47; Strangers Kissing – is it art?

EXHIBITION: VICKY CROSSLEY AT LIVERPOOL ARTS HUB 47
Vibrant arts centre Liverpool Arts Hub 47 have announced details of a major new solo show by artist Vicky Crossley – SCOPOPHILIA: The Love of Looking will examine "the tension between nature and sexuality" through a series of ceramic creations by Crossley, which will be exhibited from 13 to 30 March. "My work is about the union of opposites," says Crossley. "Order and chaos – life, creation, and death. The voyeur and the subject. I love the accidental, perfect and imperfect, and try to explore the tension between nature and sexuality in all its forms as a theme. I acknowledge that pleasure and desire are significant elements within my creative life, exploring desire as a multifaceted force, working on a level of surfaces and intensities. As a being of desire I feel compelled to generate new signifiers, becoming motivated to devise personally resonant forms of meaning that allow me, to explore sexuality and womanhood." Find out more about the exhibition here.

EXHIBITION: 'THIS IS ALL WE'VE GOT' FEATURING WORK BY 2ND YEAR STUDENTS AT EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF ART
Showcasing traditional art forms next to thoroughly modern and experimental approaches, the new exhibition at Edinburgh College of Art runs from 18 to 21 March, and will examine the varied and diverse work being produced by 2nd year students at ECA. A brilliant opportunity to peek behind the curtain and look at the studio process and techniques that have gone into the work of the 2nd year students, this exhibition offers the chance to experience the work of some of the country's most promising young artists and creators, with over 40 artists taking part, including several of those featured in the Landfall exhibition at the Arts Complex in Meadowbank in 2013. There's a drinks reception on 18 March at 5pm, and the exhibition is free to enter.

FIRST KISS: BUT IS IT ART?
Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the past few days, the chances are you'll have come across the video First Kiss, uploaded to Vimeo by filmmaker Tatia Pilieva, and now sitting at over 4 million views. Pilieva's short film has been hailed as a celebration of awkawardness and intimacy. But is it art? Shot in glossy black and white HD, and featuring a cast so physically perfect and good looking, aesthetically the film has more in common with a fashion shoot or a high-end perfume ad than it does with most art films. Does the premise – strangers meet and kiss for the first time – warrant the definition of this piece as an 'art film'? Or is there simply not enough, conceptually speaking, to make this more than a gimmick? Would 4 million people have watched it if the people depicted weren't all immaculate specimens? What, exactly, made this film such a viral hit? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

THE SKINNY WELCOMES NEW ART EDITOR TO OUR NORTH WEST TEAM
We've appointed a new Art Editor to take the lead in covering the art world in Liverpool, Manchester and beyond for our Northwest edition. Welcome Sacha Waldron, an experienced arts journalist and reviewer with a wealth of knowledge about art in the Northwest, and worldwide. "From Carlisle to Chester, Wigan to the Wirral – we will be bringing you the best in features, interviews, news and reviews from the region," Sacha promises. "Expect rides on rollercoasters, shivering in derelict buildings, walks along canals, wine-supping in white cubes and marathons around the city. Onward!"