I did the rounds, moving about the gallery space taking a series of photographs of the works. Observing like the hawk-natured critic that I am, feeling inspired and snapping countless photos of the works I thoroughly enjoyed, feeling somewhat impatient as I quickly viewed the works that didn’t stretch my imagination.
What I noticed about every piece though, whether I enjoyed them or not, was that they all stemmed from the psychological, imaginative, and highly interior worlds of each student. Each concept was thoroughly considered and produced in material form.
Every student deserved to have their works exhibited based on technical skills alone, so it’d be a shame if any of them didn’t further their talents in their tertiary education and careers.
Without further delay I will elaborate on my favourite pieces! Jordan Abram’s “2026” was one of the first photographic pieces that caught my eye. The eclectic mix of colourful portraits of the Bondi locals demonstrated Abram as a photographer skilled enough to capture the unique look of each person while still making them look natural. Intimate without being forced.
“The Artyssey” by Li-Hsien Lee attracted quite a crowd. At first the style reminded me of the traditional Japanese Ukiyo-e prints, then after looking more closely, I learned that the concept was a blend of Chinese art scrolls and western comic panels, a clever mix of old and new. I loved how the story philosophised about art in the discussions between the old master and the disciple (not to mention the brief inside joke about the Board of Studies!).
Both “Float” by Angus Cochrane and “Caught in Daydream” by Georgia Briers, though dealing with different subject matter, were photographic works that conveyed surreal and interior world concepts. “Float” consists in a series of moody underwater portraits, its subjects suspended and submerged as they hold crimson-coloured fabric. Even when I viewed “Float” on the Artexpress site before attending the exhibition I instantly knew it’d be one of my favourites. “Caught in a Daydream” explored the unconscious state of a young girl in an artful way, and I liked how it was printed on watercolour paper, and reminded me of the photos taken by Lomography cameras.
Though Indiana Maurice Porter’s “Zenith” and Barney Swan’s “The Theory of String” don’t deal with human subjects, they were still equally captivating. Watching “Zenith” in the small, darkened part of the gallery projected on an entire wall, my breath was taken away by the wonder of how a student could capture the vast beauty of the universe single-handedly in a 3D animated short. Using software like Cinema 4D and After Effects, Porter’s major work could’ve been mistaken for a university project. Quite stunning! What I loved about “The Theory of String” was that it reminded me of those modern art pieces a collector would display in their own chic city apartment. I was in awe of all the fine details Swan managed to weave, the simplicity of the design, and the coloured lights that filtered through the many layers of string.
All the students featured should feel proud of their achievements. I’m also crossing my fingers to see more installation art next time.
