Visual Arts Showcase 2024

Levi Wilson-Feeney

Title: Fringe Dwellers

Statement: Fringe Dwellers is a graffiti-inspired artwork that delves into the lives of those who exist on the margins of society. 

Lani Mott

Title: Inheritance

Statement: These series of portraits captures the diverse and often overlooked faces of homeless individuals. Spanning various ages and backgrounds these works illustrate the pervasive nature of homelessness and its impact across generations. These intimate portraits highlight the need to address the causes of homelessness and advocates for enhanced resources and support systems.

Mitchell Dick

Title: Aftermath

Statement: Aftermath vividly captures the harrowing impact of war through a detailed portrayal of the soldiers' raw emotions.

John Dunbar

Title: Cloud Factory
Statement: My Body of Work explores the concept of connection to place, an impressionist interpretation of the Condong Sugar Mill located in my place of birth, Murwillumbah. When I was a child, I would refer to the Condong Sugar Mill as the ‘Cloud Factory’ due to the steam bearing resemblance to clouds. The tonal piece represents a dream-like state, the clouds convey a sense of biblical and fantasy reminiscent of the works by the Hudson River School. I chose the Condong Sugar Mill as it is a pivotal part of my life. 

Ochre Barnden Panton

Title: Arlo and Me
Statement: Arlo and Me portrays the deep connection I share with my cat, displaying the deep level of comfort we both feel within our relationship. Arlo being the main focus of all three paintings, highlights the role he plays within my life. Three years ago he came into my life as a companion animal when I was going through a very rough patch mentally. Arlo and Me aims to convey the ability for humans and animals to form meaningful, therapeutic connections allowing for trust, which is needed between both cats and their humans.

Summer Gibbons

Title: Lost in Transition
Statement: Lost in Transition is a collection of graphite drawings, expressing the idea of growth through childhood to adolescence. It aims to capture the transition from a happy child with little worry, to a more complex person who sees the world as it is. Transitioning is defined as the process of changing from one state or being to another. As we are confronted by new ideas and experiences, we change, and we begin to adapt to new environments. My artwork captures this through depicting both the physical and mental change throughout my schooling years as captured through my self-portraits.

Caitlyn Bice

Title: Momento Mori (We do not Die)
Statement: My work, Momento Mori (We do not Die), explores an inversion of traditional vanitas painting to form a commentary on the human relationship with death. By drawing upon symbols typically associated with the glorification of gluttony and material wealth (usually depicted as cooked seafood) and placing them in their natural environment, my artwork recognises and explores the symbiotic relationship between marine flora, fauna, their environment and death in a positive light. Ultimately, a new perspective of mortality is explored through the symbolism of the whale fall. A whale fall occurs when the carcass of a whale falls onto the ocean floor. These carcasses create complex ecosystems that provide sustenance to deep-sea organisms for decades, creating new life out of death.

Grace Cuthbertson

Title: Pamela
Statement: My Nan (Pamela) arrived in Australia from England when she was eight years old as a ‘ten-pound pom’ with her parents and two siblings. I have depicted my Nan in her early 20s and one of her in her 80s to show the excitement of her time dressing up, spending time with friends and family, and getting married to a ‘Scotsman’, capturing moments when she was happiest. She was a strong woman who advocated for women's rights
in the workplace and unconditionally devoted her life to her family and friends. Using stitching / embroidery in the drawings on the jewellery signifies their special memories as well as her love of doing embroidery and being a keen seamstress. She inspires me daily to have a voice, and I hope to have captured her essence in watercolour on paper.

Holly Henwood

Title: Beautifully Flawed
Statement: Beautifully Flawed explores Sawtell's scenic beauty through the lens of nature and architecture.
Inspired by the contrast of the two main elements—nature's organic forms and the rigidity of
architecture—the work delves into themes of feminism, modernism and the abstract nature of our
existence. This exploration invites you to see these elements in a new light, engaging you in a fresh
perspective. By using pink to highlight the often male-dominated field of architecture, I aim to show
the presence of femininity within this traditional masculine domain. The artwork's juxtaposition of
artificial developments and natural elements symbolises the tension between our constructed
environment and the natural world. This tension is illustrated by the plants extending into the
geometrical shapes and beyond the borders of the piece, suggesting a merging of nature into the
built environment.

Ava Carrol

Title: All that She Does
Statement: My work is a journey through the experience of the role of a mother, exploring the delicate interplay
between emotion, love, and reality. Inspired by my Mother, my work is designed to make viewers reflect on how their
lives have been shaped by the selfless actions of a mother or the person who took on this role in
their upbringing. I have crafted these pieces with the specific intention of sparking thought and evoking a personal response,
encouraging viewers to relate to their own experiences and emotions.

Tara Bellhouse

Title: Diaspora
Statement: My work explores the liminal space between my Thai/Lao heritage and Australian identity. Through mixed media, I blend traditional and contemporary elements to reflect the complexities of cultural intersection in urban and rural settings. With delicate natural flora and folk characters I've emulated the narrative style of traditional Thai folk art.

Grace Tran

Title: Favourites
Statement: My Body of Work embodies the perceptions of my persona incorporating culture, significant symbols, imagination, and emotion such as stress. A collage, pop art style, my inspiration came from Miyazaki Hayao as well as Andy Warhol, through the solid colours and dreamy imagination that is an insight into my individuality of interests and perspective. Each individual drawing has a personal, symbolic meaning to my journey through childhood into becoming a young adult.

Keiana Dreelan

Title: The Dazzling Hoard of Miss D: A Magical Collection of Curiosities
Statement: As a self portrait, my Body of Work is revealing of my bowerbird nature. I'm a bit of a hoarder! It is also an examination of the Wunderkammen, or cabinets of Curiosities that stored and exhibited a wide range of rare objects with an emphasis on the eclectic and unusual ... a bit like me. I looked to the work of 17th Century European artists such as Domenico Remps for inspiration, and Australian artist, Brett Whiteley, particularly his work that featured bowerbirds.

Zoe Bulmer

Title: I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream
Statement: My work is an exploration of the fragility of human life. It is a deeply personal work, and at its core, questions what is scarier - the truth, or human imagination? This question drives the narrative of the piece, compelling viewers to confront their own uncertainties of humanity's vulnerability to its own inventions and the self destructive nature that appears to be innate within us. Through an overwhelming sensory experience, I aim to prompt thought and introspection within the viewer, allowing the artwork to be open to a range of interpretations. I was inspired by a novel of the same name, and artists James Gleeson and Goya.

Lynete Bridgwater

Title: Elysian Escape
Statement: My Body of Work delves into the concept of using imagination as a means of escapism. I've used Clip Studio Paint to digitally illustrate surreal imagery, characters and semi-autobiographical elements to explore my identity and mental landscape.

Alani Adamson

Title: Unfurling
Statement: My Body of Work seeks to uncover the intricate process of dismantling the barriers we construct to shield ourselves from vulnerability, and the freedom achieved in openness. From the stark contrasts of confinement to the vibrancy and fluidity of release, my work seeks to capture the essence of transformation. As a manifestation of the desire and capacity to ‘break out of my shell’, I have constructed a selection of artworks which successfully convey the need to truly embrace change, in order to realise the full extent of the human experience.

Davanee Sammut

Title: Nannu: A Graceful Passage
Statement: My body of work Nannu: A Graceful Passage delves into the profound themes of the passage of time and the inherent fragility of life. In a world where the relentless march of time is both a constant force and a quiet whisper, the artwork serves as a meditation on the transient nature of existence. My work incorporates pencil drawings of the process of ageing juxtaposed with moments of beauty and joy that fleetingly punctuate our lives.

Ajandri Kelly

Title: Het Verhaal Vanderaam (The story of the Widow)
Statement: Het Verhaal Vanderaam delves into maternal affection and the complexities of intergenerational relationships. Weaving a narrative of loss, love, connection and the inevitable changes brought by the passage of time.The story of the widow captures the evolving nature of motherhood, reflecting the strength of the matriarch and the ability to endure, overcome and flourish together.

Amala Abawa

Title: Sometimes I Disappear
Statement: Sometimes I Disappear is a collection of prints and sketches that explore the depth between dark and light, and reveals the complexity of human identity. These works highlight the hidden aspects of ourselves and the masks we wear in different social contexts.

Naomi Morrison

Title: The Ache of Absence; The Warmth of Home
Statement: Capturing how the past is retained in the space around us, my artwork The Ache of Absence; The Warmth of Home takes on the idea of how identity is linked to the space we live in. I have been inspired by South Korean artist Do Ho Suh, who explores concepts of home and identity. This translates into my body of work, as I use biographical scenes of my own home and objects prevalent in my own childhood intended to evoke empathetic reactions from the audience by portraying the universal human experience of nostalgia and longing.

Jack Bugden

Title: Mga Pagsubok at Ako (Filipino for Hardships and I)
Statement: Inspired by the work of Basquiat and Banksy, my collection of four frames titled 'Mga Pagsubok at Ako,' (or Hardships & I') showcases a web of personal memories and experiences from the last year. The panels reveal multiple parts of my and my family's identity through self portraits, including my dad suffering from his brain injury, his healing, his time isolated in hospital, and a happy memory of us at the beach prior to these events. The non-linear order of the frames reveals the themes of connection, struggle, and resilience, like memories that are fragmented but still whole. The artwork allows the audience to move through various periods of hardship and joy, offering a deeper understanding of my personal life and my family.