ENERGIES ARTWORKS - page 1

Amber Dwinell

Biotic Bodies

Mixed Media and Photography

My love for nature and the biotic world fuels my passion for wanting to understand and observe the interrelationship of the functionality of all living things while my fondest memories of childhood were spent growing plants with my sister; I was fascinated with watching plants grow. Both plants and humans have an internal transportation system that enables the organism to transpire and live. The textural layers of the background pieces evoke the layers of the body - like the layers of the skin in relation to the micro and macro strata that make up the world.

Della Evans

The Imprint of Memories

Digitally Manipulated Photograph

The Imprint of Memories talks about change and transformation particularly through emotion and experience. A hospital symbolizes life events and my work overlays these with emotional content. Being sick as a baby in the recently demolished Gold Coast Hospital had a permanent affect on my life, not only emotionally but also physically. The lighting, framing and subject matter serve as a metaphor for the emotions evoked by this event. The work encapsulates the notion of physical and psychological imprints left by the people who have now been released in the demolition of the building.

Mackenzie Edmonds

Ecstacy Diptych

Mixed Media

Ecstasy encapsulates body language as a gestural art form to invite the audience’s recognition of mood and emotion. The work invites the audience to use their own visceral experience to interpret the gestures and visual language while the psychological context of the work is enhanced by the colour properties. The intention was to show how subtle emotional shifts are expressed through the body and how these make up the uniqueness of each human being. Ecstasy focuses the audience on an individual journey, and hopefully also, on their own deeply embodied emotions.

Li En Peng

Spider Lily

The  Spider Lily series plays with the space between reality and dreams. It depicts the joy and pleasure of escaping reality to construct one’s own place through play and imagination. The whimsical activities of the child and the use of flowers as a symbolic element, create a playfully innocent atmosphere suggesting a place of comfort and tranquility. Dreams provide solace where reality cannot. Spider Lily, shows us that the best escape is to dream for good. The making of these works embodies a ritual to make dreams tangible, freezing the wish into solid form. The ability to slip into another realm of dreams and fantasy can wash away the nightmares of reality.

Julian Scott

Illumination

Illumination is a series of self-portraits that comment on the issues surrounding self-discovery and the search for identity. The images show a girl who is only partially illuminated by a light that shines from within her own hands; she is otherwise shrouded in darkness. The images are made to represent the unknown effects that accompany finding yourself and coming out. The white light shows the purity of the person you are, and the way that it has yet to be marred by the influences of the outer world. The way that the girl holds the light represents her hesitance about sharing what she knows, and fear about letting it be known.

Emily Jamieson

Disquietude

Disquietude is a series of photographs that explores anxiety and the thoughts and feelings associated with that mental state. The upside down placement of some images creates a sense of tension and uneasiness within the images; she is positioned to appear defeated. The lens and the circle format of the upper images represents suggests tunnel-vision in which the sufferer can see only problems and everything else becomes blurred, making it hard to function. The girl is alone in her suffering, like many who experience anxiety, she feels on their own with no one who understands her feelings, this idea is explored though the sense of isolation suggested.

Elizabeth Gunther

Marked for Life

“Marked for Life” deals with the idea of the archetypal actress evoked by the layers of makeup suggesting the multitude of roles played by an actress over time.  The characters live within the actress who holds the metaphysical transformation of each performance within herself.  After the final curtains are drawn, the character ceases to exist except within the marks left on the actress. The makeup references every trace of each character she has ever played, as she looks into the mirror seeking an evolved person. Embodying another person is an enriching experience, requiring deep reflection and a degree of introversion.

Hamish Thomson

L1F3>LIFE

Video

In 2015 I created this mixed media artwork that combines both video and audio elements. It is obvious that today’s society has been corrupted by social media. My work seeks to open the eyes of the viewer to this addiction by personifying Facebook itself. This artwork asks the question if we are consuming online content ... or is it consuming us?​

VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tunQ9N2uR8s&feature=youtu.be

Zac McFarlane

Obama: Power of Fear

Plastic toy soldiers, acrylic paint

This abstract work delves into the controversial issues surrounding gun control and the constitutional dilemmas of the United States government. This highly emotive work has its message effectively conveyed through a large and very confronting form of media, which employs the postmodern shock and awe tactic to challenge the viewer's preconceptions on the topic at hand.  The work conveys the message that even a man with the world's most influential military force at his fingertips, can still not alter the murderous structure of the capitalistic 2^nd amendment. "Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power." – John Steinbeck

Zac McFarlane

Earth's Last Tree

Australian hard wood, hot glue

This perplexing work represents the everlasting battle contemporary society wages against our precious forests. The issue of global deforestation is conveyed through a texturally engaging form of media, which then is partially destroyed by man in an act of intentional vandalism. This work is a visual representation of our materialistic hunger for resources decimating earth's most precious asset.  Are there other options to large capitalist corporations that thrive off of the burning of our earths only pair of lungs.

Jack Klementsen

Slaves to Be

Digital design printed on canvas

‘Slaves To Be’, is a series of four post-modern Photoshop prints. This work focuses on technology and its advancement from its simplest form to the powerful it has on today’s society and beyond. The work gives evidence of both the positive and negatives of each development ranging from the days of the native civilizations to future generations as a timeline. Using proportions, the work reflects how our ecological footprint has impacted day to day life, giving examples from native civilizations, industrial age, present time and into the near future.

Brock Thornburgh

A Glass Heart

Mixed Media – Acrylic Paint, Oil pastels

“A Glass Heart” conveys the struggle of crack addicts, and the everyday mayhem they cause as they struggle with their addiction. The symbology conveys the focus and addresses the broader worldwide issue that is associated with the consumption of illegal drugs. The wild naïve fusion of scribble and rotten teeth underline the craziness connected to ice.

Tim Richardson

Jesus Wept

Acrylic paint, oil pastel, chalk pastel and collage

“Jesus Wept” takes a look at Brazil in the context of its role as World Cup host.  A country embroiled in so much strife, political unrest, poverty and heart ache, the world cup seemed a distraction to the more important issues.

Max Statham

Consumption in our veins

2 works each A3, Derwent pencil on cartridge paper

My body of work, which is titled, “Consumption in our veins,” focuses on advertising and its negative effects on society. Advertising has had such an impact on our world that we as individuals have stopped thinking for ourselves and fallen into the trap of socials expectations and acceptability. People are so caught up in wanting and needing the latest materialistic products, because advertising brainwashes the public to believe that if you have this or wear this or eat this, your life will be happier. But in reality, when you finally purchase these items you aren’t as satisfied as what you thought. This concept is now accepted as modern day society. The main aim of this body of work is to educate viewers on the effect of advertising on the general public. People may see this as though there is nothing wrong with today’s world, but they are subconsciously controlled by what advertising exposes. But I guess this is the world we live in today, where advertising and businesses have pulled wool over the eyes of the public.

Harlan Norris

“In the name of the lord…” Triptych Artwork

Artwork #1 “Genesis 19:4-6” Artwork #2 “Pied Piper the Guilty X” Artwork #3 “Madonna and the Abused”

Photoshop digital prints

“In the name of the lord…” is a triptych that is inspired by the recent child abuse cases that have come to light connecting directly to the Christian Churches. The artwork is formed from three appropriation compositions created in Photoshop that re-contextualize old renaissance paintings from Raphael and Velázquez. The triptych explores the physical and sexual abuse that has been ignored due to many turning a blind eye ‘in the name of the lord’ to protect the image and the greater well being of the religion.

Joshua van Rooyen

It’s Not My Fault I’m Happy

Spray paint, Mixed Media on Wooden Panels

Laughter and the hilarity of teenage euphoria is bludgeoned out of us as our childhood is stolen and replaced with the sepia blur of what was a colourful world full of excitement, risk and miracles. So as the blind fold of schooling is slowly removed. I choose to be the arrogant one who is inspired by the world and not scared of it, who fills their nights with endless laughter, spends their days in scorching heat fried by the music of their favourite band. I remain drunk on the vibes of my life. I choose to be forever young.

Alice Vincini

Amplification

Mix Media and Paint on Canvas

Climate change is something not many believe in, see or perceive to be reality. It is something we live with and something we, as a civilisation, must overcome. The artwork is a reflection of ones anthropogenic amplification. The consistent movement resembles the circulation of each cell in the atmosphere and what infiltrates the natural system to contaminate and build on the negative effects of climate change.

Jenna Nortje

Whisper Your Dream to a Cloud

Resin, Polymer Paint and Ink on Canvas

‘Whisper Your Dream to a Cloud’ evokes the unstable spaces of dreams as if all forms and clusters are in a state of flux, liable to transform or bleed into each other at any moment. Fantastical abstractions and cosmic imagery applied to canvas through random pours, drips and spills produces natural fluidity and playfully chaotic patterns, aiming to portray living dream in an exploration of the unconscious mind.

Holly Spencer

Order and Chaos

Black and White Photography and Fibres

Society has regulations on the way individuals of the world should think, mentality should be in order, nothing too far out of the ordinary. If one's mentality is the slightest bit different or chaotic, those individuals are treated as ‘mentality ill’ or ‘insane’. This piece shows a process of restoring the original unique mentality each individual possesses. The use of pattern and line within my artwork represent the rehabilitation of the individual’s mentality, from a structured and orderly line to an abstract and disordered design.

Kayla Wass

Humans ‘One with Nature’

Photography

Making humans ‘one with nature’ in an attempt to conserve and restore life, even after death. When life has reached its inevitable end, the human soul leaves the body. The effect of time rots away and decays the lifeless body, providing the earth with the nutrients that the human consumed during their life. These nutrients enrich, the endless cycle begins.

Denvay Wastell
Photography, painting, collage, mixed media with ink, embossed metal and staples on distressed board

My journey was almost taken from me at just five years of age. My head was crushed by a heavy farm gate and I wasn’t expected to live. Even today complications could arise at any moment. ‘Staple’ encompasses mixed media elements as I aim to depict my personal agony, and the fundamental importance of fear and hope for tomorrow. It uncovers an essence of human potential and my fight for survival. The 22 staples that held my head together are a daily reminder that life is precious. In this work I sought to portray the beauty of life.

Santiago Rendon-Bechara
Once, Now, Then
Cricifix configuration of colour photography on polyurethane composite board

My work is based on the concept of dreams and the contrast between fantasy and reality, as well as the influence that past dreams have on present and future dreams. It is influenced by Sally Mann’s photography in which the main element of space is used to draw the viewer’s eye into the subject. The concept of dreams originated from learning that Do Ho Suh’s work ‘Some/One’ came from a past fantasy dream. I’m metaphorically looking from the past into the future, and the images painted onto the face representing the contrast between reality and fantasy dreams.

Lilly Grant
Portrait of the artist as indecisive
Colour photography

I am…unique. What makes me unique? I am unique, scarred from battle the battle against myself, the battle we all have to take.  We all have to fight by ourselves. Being indecisive and self doubtful I struggled to fight this battle, I still am the battle that will never end. This series of photographs shows a significant path within my battle. Each photo represents a part of me. Image one shows how I am strong, not afraid to show my battle wounds.  Image two the fear I have of losing everything that means something to me and image three the feeling that I’m drowning, drowning myself in my own doubt.

Jonn Dillon
Perception
Digital Video

My video is the exploitation of movement and motion.  This idea was cultivated though my experiences of large amounts of traveling and my holiday to America. The footage is all my own photography that was taken throughout the trip. The motion in the footage is meant to resemble cars, in that the individual particles are the car windows, and what is inside is another world that can be explored.  Drifting lights, indistinct shapes and the monotonous blur of the highway with cars and trucks whizzing by create the literal feel of a road trip and give the perception of a metaphorical journey as well.

Video link



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFuuB1AkhOo&feature=youtu.be

Glenda Choi
The Strange Place
Digital Video

I am anxiety. This emotion has stifled my courage since before I can remember - a twisted old friend of sorts, waiting to seize me at my worst. Inspired by Cindy Sherman's innovative photographic style and Shaun Tan's abstract depictions of displacement and alienation, I wanted to express who I was, in the rawest, most sensitive form that I could capture, for there are many aspects of personal identity and 'self' that cannot be seen on the surface. The dank, derelict niches formed in the back of my mind are where the conflict is most tangible. Digesting my thoughts, turmoil and fear always seem to take their toll: rolling me forward and backwards in perpetual motion until all that is left of my resolve is uncoiled, a seemingly unbreakable wire, snapped at my feet. This is the path wreaked by anxiety. this is the journey I sought to divulge. A journey to which there is no reprieve and one that I have learned to reluctantly embrace.


Video link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58iifny4VvU&feature=youtu.be

Kate Jacobs
Discrimination and Segregation
Photography, collage, mixed media ( film strips, clear plastic and document patterns )


I have used the concept of the Civil Rights Movement to embody the struggles of discrimination, segregation and the fight for equality. My work repurposed the journey of civil rights pioneers, foregrounding a collection of works surrounding the concept of equality.  This is symbolised through the repetition of film and document patterns as they are elements of segregation. Within film, the subtle differences between each slide reminds me of the subtle differences between every person that is related to this iconic time. This is continued to be suggested through the incorporation of images of people, symbolising reality, and real people connecting to the notion that everyone no matter what race, is a person going about their everyday life.

Natalie Sole
Scratches beneath the surface
Colour photography and electronic manipulation

My work " Scratches beneath the surface"of gender stereotypes through the fusion of colour selections, the surreal transparency of human skin and the manipulation of texture, to allude to a two dimensional image as three dimensional. I’ve incorporated street art elements, light versus darkness, overlaid images, manipulation of surfaces and serene facial expressions to construct an alluring atmosphere that captures the beauty and purity of the female form. I’ve adopted influences from Jean-Paul Gaultier, Cindy Sherman, Matt Wisniewski and Banksy. It depicts my personal journey through adolescence and social expectations, labels and stereotypes formulated by women towards women.

Alannah Vann

“Parts of me”

Mixed media, canvas, acrylic paint & ink

Parts of Me is a self-portrait series created through the interaction and manipulation of discarded artworks and canvases in order to create highly textured pieces that ultimately represent my multifaceted identity. “Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I’ve ever known” (Chuck Palahniuk, 1999). Upon contemplation of the concept of ‘Journey’ the idea of identity and the representation of self as an extension of the world we live in emerges. Mixed media is demonstrative of the indefinite and unlimited, as our lives are a collaboration of interwoven connections and pathways of those who surround us.

Jennifer Clements

“Distinguished from the rest”

Colour Photography

I’m not one colour; there is not one colour that can generally recapitulate myself, not one single colour to describe myself as a whole.  Looking at the psychology of colours, you are exposed to colours signifying different dispositions and feelings. I have qualities within that can be portrayed in the psychological use of each colour which Is why this series is so diverse and rich with vibrancy. Describing yourself honestly means to be true to yourself. I am an introvert.

Whilst overthinking every thought within whilst keeping reserve and withdrawn from the rest I’m self interested and have dreams which are relentlessly compressed by the idea of expectations and negativity. Part 2 of this series focuses purely on the introverted collapse of sanity which constantly fluctuates my ambiguously filled mind. The dissenting illusion that each thought is unrealistic and impossible frightens me. Realistically everyone needs to be an introvert at some point as well as colourfully immersed in a range of emotional strengths and weaknesses. However as darkness continues to empower the positivity left within, I sit pondering over every touch, thought and memory my whole begins to slowly fade with my mind. I notice everything however, nothing notices me. Each thought of mine is distinctive which relates to the psychological depth of each colour surrounding each emotional barrier. This series focuses predominantly on my heavily colourful introverted mind to supremely distinguish myself from the rest. 

Alex Boundy

‘Royal’ Video Art

This is Una Royal Price, my 96 year old great-grandmother; loved by her 11 children, 23 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. I call her GG. A week after filming, she was moved from her home of 42 years. My grandmother had never seen her cry, until now. Her life stories are locked behind a wall of dementia; stories of two world wars and the Great Depression. She lost a husband, four children and her mother at birth. Before she died, her mother gave her the middle name ‘Royal’. Maybe she knew that, one day, GG would be our Queen.

Kelvin Chan

'Digital Memories'

Video Art

‘Digital memories’ presents an alternate reality situation if brain data were to be treated as digital files. The film comments on the vast digitisation of current life and our reliance on technology. With this, memories and information that were once contained in our minds lose their sensory value, becoming just bits of lifeless data.

Georgia Breeden

‘Burnt’

6 x ink on paper (individually framed)

When I was six years old my house burnt down. This experience changed my life.

As the youngest member of the family my memories of the fire are not clear. My artwork explores how each individual member of my family have different memories, reaction and emotions in regards to the same event. I use pattern as a personal language and the size of the holes in the paper to symbolise the impact of the fire on each individual.

In a broader sense my work explores gaps in memories and how each individual remembers the same event differently.

Cody Gallop

 ‘A Child’s Dreamscape’

 Acrylic Paint and Pen on found image (framed)

Growing into an adult it becomes apparent that the imagination withers. This piece reflects on the idea of ‘playful danger’ this whimsical dreamscape delves into the magical world within a child’s mind. The characters drawn in pen take the boring monotony of the everyday to a place of play and can be seen as nightmarish and creepy, or intimate and contemplative friends to explore this monotony and awaken a world of play within one’s mind.

Emma Reeds

‘Arcana’

Video Art

The natural world is constantly observing human practises, bearing witness to our everyday lives and holding the memory of the events of the world, waiting for us to become conscious of its existence, of the knowledge and memories that it holds.

Miu Tsujikawa

“Me, You 1”

Painting, engraving, and found objects on glass

 “Me, You 2”

Collage on canvas

There are critical aspects in life that we are unable to modify; inherent with being born in this world. The body, the race, the gender, the family etc. However, there are things we can change, and one is the mental picture that we perceive as we view one another. In this Body of Work, using a wide range of media and techniques, I have decided to decorate my ego and visualise a statement of who I am, instead of “I/me” suffering, why don’t others hold back with their censure?

“Fight to fulfil your duty to care for your child that you have injudiciously brought into this world!”

“Don’t look for visual perfection in women as we are not born to be models.”

These are simple examples of the hanging innovations and concepts behind the Artworks.

Miu Tsujikawa

Ghost Stories

Ink on Paper

This concept depicts a satirical illustration of a former-human, and embellishes them in a playful way to portray sympathy through real-life events, in order to impact the viewers in a way which does not hold the stereotypical “scary” impressions. Greatly inspired by an artist David Lynch and his aesthetic with one of his masterpieces “The Angriest Dog in the World”, the comic visually displays each strip identically. In contrast, however, to David Lynch presenting his work as the “pitiful state of unhappiness and misery”, the Ghost Stories aim to represent the boredom and satirical side of daily life.

Shevaun Gregory

Seasons of Life – Autumn

Collage on canvas

The leaves fall in Autumn, and falling leaves can be a metaphor for death or the ageing process; yet this season is often followed by a heavy winter and then a regeneration of life in Spring.  In shorter cycles in life Autumn can represent periods of loss, grief or rest from the cares of life.  Rather than viewing Autumn as a period of loss or grief I wanted to be playful with the way I represented this time, as if reliving my experiences playing in the Autumn in South Africa.  The red carpet of leaves, the variety of colours and the weightlessness of each leaf as it was carried by the breeze or stirred by my own movements.

Jamianne Poa

Journey Through Emotion – Fear of Death

Collage on canvas

There are many metaphors for death.  Christians believe there is life after death – eternal life, yet our human nature leads us through a journey of strong emotions as we contemplate death.  We still fear death even though it has lost it’s sting, due to God’s gift of Grace.  If we are honest, no matter how much we trust that this is not the end, we still have an element of fear as we approach death, particularly if we are isolated in doing so.  My character has suffered so much in life that she wants to die, but she is terrified of the outcome.

Sharnee Hilder

Eclipse

Artistic Film

My work explores Newton’s third law of motion that states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This relates to my artwork and my experiences in life. Growing up as a BMX racer, you are never able to predict the outcome of your race, whether you win, lose or have an accident. This also is valuable metaphor for life. The symbolism and imagery I have used portray the endless possibilities that come with life and your choices.

Monica Yates

The Fire Within

Mixed Media Print

My work explores the sacred connection we have with the elements in nature and my place within, symbolized by the printed sphere like symbol layered on the surface.  I have always been fascinated by fire and it’s unpredictability, which also reflects my personal journey through life. I have used dots and lines to symbolise my journey, these lines twist, turn and even go off the page to symbolise how I have found myself off my path and lost in several situations, only to become grounded again by the healing of fire.

Ryan Kearney

Discarded Hope

Digital Work on Paper

My work was created from discarded plastics, addressing humanities careless nature and lack of conscience with regards to pollution. My focus was on the potent nature of consumerism and how we need to learn to pick up after ourselves before the very thing we throw away consumes us as a whole.

Jayden Donnelly

Follow the Leader

Digital Work on paper

My work explores Australian Politics, specifically my own views regarding the Abbott government; who continues to run Australia into the ground through shady policies, anti-equal rights statements and an abandoned interest in the environment. I wanted to show viewers how I see him by using symbolism and references to his true character in a comical almost graffiti like manner.

Anita Moes

Sewn in Sadness

Mixed Media works on calico

Sewn-in Sadness, is a piece created to represent my struggle with depression. Often thought of as just an emotion, to me, depression does more than make someone sad, it almost control’s the individual’s behaviour and thought process. Many people put a mask on and hide their emotions, but leave depression alone, and it’ll sew itself into your very being. It does more than bring sadness; it damages your lifestyle as a whole.  Depression is not something that can be removed with just medication or talking, but often years of healing, sometimes a lifetime.  My work began with costume design and drifted into photography that amounted to a series of tapestry type works of the soul.

Leah Heritage

Am I doing OK?

Mirrors with adhesive text

I think that art can be powerful tool; it has the potential to provide people with the opportunity to evaluate themselves on a very personal level.  ‘Am I doing OK?’ was created to assist people in the practice of self-care through self-reflection. This work is intended to confront and provoke the viewer; it proposes guiding questions that the observer must deliberate while they look at their own reflection. The hope is that in taking the time to question themselves they will become a more enlightened individual.

Rebekah Allen

Innocence

Acrylic paint and crystals on fabric

This artwork may at first glance depict a beautiful young Indian girl in traditional garments surrounded by lush flowers. However the girl is painted on a red saree the traditional colour and attire of an Indian wedding and is surrounded by lotus flowers, which are symbolic of innocence and purity throughout India.  This girl is a child bride an issue with many cultural complexities that is regarded harshly in the western world. Will this girl be trapped in a situation she cannot escape? Will her innocence be lost?

Talysia Eggleton

Fixated

Graphite pencil on Paper

Fixated was created in response to the issues and pressures experiences by young women in relation to body image.  We are continually bombarded by media representations of the figure that are considered perfect yet are unachievable and often not even natural.  Girls can easily become fixated on small parts of their own body; they perceive insignificant imperfections and don’t stop to consider their bodies as a whole.

Emily Durban

Conscious, Subconscious

Digital video

Our brain is much better than a computer it can process data in two separate ranges, the conscious and the subconscious. From childhood our mind is filled with thoughts that flicker through at random responding to our experiences and shaping our views of the world sometimes logically sometimes completely illogically.

Chloe Cao

Madonna of the East

Digital Photography

As a physical embodiment of a set of universal espoused principles, the Madonna, is adapted into many cultures. Representing spiritual values, purity and royalty, she is a timeless reminder of the moral foundation that society is built upon. Recreating the most influential icon in western civilization, this photograph explores a dark aspect of globalisation. It reflects the adaptation of western culture in the East, which despite many positive outcomes, comes with a uniformity that contributes to the loss of spirit and inner self.

Emma Davis

Walking the lanes

Handmade paper works

The ritual of paper-making is ancient, scientific and rhythmic. ‘Walking the lanes’ blurs the boundaries between working with paper and working with textiles. These fragments are woven together with my grandma’s loose threads and formed with an assortment of used paper and collected fibres. It is fragile but there is no characteristic weakness in the materials that bind it together – it is a quiet walk through nature, an adventurous amalgam of the ancient processes and non-functional textural works form a botanical patchwork of the world around us; a perfect balance between fragility and pleasure.

Kate Ebeling

An apology to the women in my life

Welded spoons

I’m 17. I do not water the flowers in the garden, nor do I sew. I find dad’s workshop more exciting than my mother’s kitchen, welding scraps of metal and transforming them into beautiful creations is far more exciting. However, I find myself obliged to start collecting plates, cutlery etc inevitably for my own kitchen. White tulips stand for forgiveness and worthiness homage to my place in the world.

Paige Moore

Lost in Transition

Acrylic on paper

Bill Henson describes adolescence as a period of time where “individuals negotiate the difficult passage between adulthood and childhood”. These paintings depict my personal confusion and the feelings of confusion, sadness and vulnerability that adolescents face ultimately making them feel lost in society.

Elle Wagner

Cluster

Cotton wound styrofoam spheres and origami Dung beetles

My body of work Cluster represents the hybridity of natural and man-made materials of the reassignment of animal waste for sustenance. The juxtaposition of the completely uniform black dung beetles against the random, wild and free colours and entanglements of the cotton thread balls represent a cluster of life. The uncontrolled, entangled cotton threads on each ball, although from origin was made from cotton bush seedpods, is still a man-made product and is therefore a hybrid of nature and man-made.

Yasmine Sun

With Grace

Acrylic on canvas

We accumulate time like a mantle, an inexorable progression gifting us with experience and, hopefully, love & wisdom. German philosopher Max Scheler alludes to this in his insistence that those who have loved, die lightly; those who have taken in and become satiated by the world pass with grace. My aged portrait attempts to capture this elusive yet vital aspect of our existence.

Joe Adams

Ken Hudson

Framed photographic print

The very nature of studio photography derives from a mastery of planning and attention to technical detail. Planning, preparation and a photographer who knows exactly what they want from a shoot are vital. Then again, sometimes you just have to go with your instincts and shoot what presents itself.

Mirica Layton

Imperfect tessellation

Photographic print on wood with resin

How we fit together as individuals and as a society is bound by structure; rules and convention. The role of the outsider is therefore also bound by the very same structure – only an external reflection of it. My portrayal of the outsider is defined not only by her animalistic visage but also her facetted appearance.

Briar Hodges

Knight

Framed photographic print

We all wear armour. We are driven to shield ourselves from the emotional and psychological onslaught of our daily existence. Our armour, the outer shell that we don as a defence against our environment, can be seen to define us. It is what we show the world. The clean lines and burnished steel of my image reflect this concept.

Zahli Parker

Self Portrait

Mixed media on wood

People are complex. We grow and mature by accumulating layer upon layer of knowledge, emotion and experience that comes to define our personality. My self portrait references this idea by distressing, cutting and sanding to expose what lies beneath the surface.

Bailey Butel

Shhhh, don’t let them know!

Digital painting

As humans we can never be perfect. We will always have a side of us that we show and another side; which is tainted by the world we live in. This is the side we try to conceal, our dark side.  At times this aspect of ourselves encroaches into our everyday lives even though this darkness is condemned by society; hence ‘Shhhh, don’t let them know’.

James Viljoen

Monkey see, Monkey do.

Pen on paper

The well-known statement ‘Monkey see, monkey do,’ has inspired my work. As a society we tend to blindly follow instructions without questioning their worth. I have drawn the monkeys with their eyes wide open so they have the ability to see the results of their actions, which is a direct contrast to people who are completely oblivious.

Tiana Florea

Dust-to-Dust: The Inevitable Return.

Acrylic paint and lead pencil on ply wood

“For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return."  Genesis 3:19

Death is an inescapable part of human existence. In the end, all of us will pass away and our bodies will return to the earth. This is the condition that every human is born into. Yet, as morbid as death may seem, it is this beautiful cycle of life and nature that enables life to hold an infinite and everlasting quality.

Samuel Freeman

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Mixed Media

An eternal question of school age children is  “What do you want to be when you grow up?”. This question follows students during their schooling as children develop understandings and ideas of what their place in the world will be. Through this ideology, the works created have reflected what instantly recognisable celebrities wanted to be when they were young. This idea is a flip on the initial framework, which initially looked at career paths younger students wanted to follow. What did these well known people want to be when they grew up? Have they fulfilled their schoolyard destiny?

Oliver Wren
Streamline
Photography

The ocean is a much-loved place for many people. It is also called home by thousands of species of fish, which all have their own colours and markings that relate to where they live. The markings of this fish Scomberomous Commerson (common name: Spanish Mackerel), reflect accurately where it lives. When looking at the patterns from the lateral lines it looks like an ocean scape. ‘Streamline’ is a collection of photographs which explore fish scapes and the way they integrate with their surroundings

Kimberly Stokes

Small Talk Big Screen

Watercolour and acrylic

Exploring the idea of fear of isolation- our world is progressively moving forward with technology driving us. Each day there is a new alternative to connect to people. Many still feel disconnected with thoughts of loneliness, seclusion and exclusion. As we scroll through various social media sites 'engaging' with happy people with perfect lives, are we really connected at all?

Joanne Nguyen

‘Building Blocks of Dreams’

Watercolour, pen, pencil, paper

‘Building Blocks of Dreams’ explores the significance of symbolic messages embedded within one’s subconscious mind. A restful female figure is depicted with weary eyes in a dreamlike state, her subconscious thoughts manifesting into a series of animated dreams. The girl’s dreams are filled with whimsical imagery containing flowers, hot air balloons, butterflies, whales, clouds and galaxies, suggesting the absence of rational thought and attempting to flood the memories of one’s waking life. Delicate layering of materials, detailed illustrations and fanciful compositions invite the viewer to ponder the significance of the surreal imagery and subsequently become lost in the dreamscapes.

McKenzie Jennings

‘Hope, Wisdom, Power’

Watercolour and pen on paper

‘Hope, Wisdom, Power’ explores the notion of spirit animals and the relationship between humans and beasts. I believe aspects of my personality correspond with that of three animals, a wolf, an owl and a lion. Wolves are known for their protective instincts and loyalty to their family members and friends. I hold these traits close to my heart and am hopeful others recognise this quality in me. Owls are majestic birds known for their vast knowledge and wisdom. I strive to embody a willingness to learn from every situation. Lions are powerful predators known for their strength and power. I rely on my inner strength and resilience to carry me through the tough endeavours in my life. I invite the viewer to connect with their inner beasts and celebrate their own unique traits.

  

Tarni Forbes

‘The Mind is Like Water’

Digital Film

My artwork ‘The Mind is Like Water’ explores the boundaries between the physical and the mental, the external and the internal, the seen and the unseen. After recently being diagnosed with depression and anxiety, I find it difficult to explain to others how I am feeling. While on the surface, I appear calm; I am actually seconds away from crying. Some people think I appear disinterested but it’s just that I can’t switch off my brain. I often wonder if mental health were something physical, external or tangible, what would it feel like, what would it sound like and what would it look like? I believe the mind is like water; while at times it can be healing and soothing; it can also be wildly unpredictable, destructive and dangerous.

  

Madeleine Vince

‘Arcane’

Digital Film

'Arcane' is a visual journey depicting false representations and misconceptions often attributed to youth. The imagery focuses on religion and its associated belief systems; as one of societies most controversial topics. Through the use of prosthetics, stage make-up and special effects, I have transformed myself from the innocent schoolgirl into the Satanist and Occult worshiper I am so often accused of being.

Star Allen

‘The Unravelling’

Copper wire sculptures

‘The Unravelling’ explores the notion of fear as a psychological state, in which consumes the individual, festers in the mind and breeds irrational thought. The abstract ‘cocoon’ forms act as a visual embodiment of the asphyxiating feelings associated with fear. Regardless of the type or magnitude of fear itself, fear has a way of consuming the individual and creating a barrier between the individual and reality. Just like a butterfly inside a cocoon, fears grow within the mind and change the individuals’ perception of reality. The artificial characteristics of the copper wire suggest that fears are not real, and that they are simply fabricated as a figment of the imagination.

Dion Phillips

Worlds Collide

Diptych drawing

 Graphite pencil and coloured pencil on matte board.

“Principles for the Development of a Complete Mind: Study the science of art. Study the art of science… Realise that everything connects to everything else”.

-              Leonardo da Vinci

Two artworks were created using graphite pencils, black pen and coloured pencils on A2 paper. Regarding Scientific Revolution, particular focus was on the intimate relationship between the hemispheres of the brain as they establish a unified cognitive machine incorporating many scientific and artistic functions. Both images were large scale portraits of Salvador Dali and Albert Einstein whom are revolutionary figures in the areas of art and science which provide familiarity, as well as their backgrounds of interest in the opposite field.

Ruby Graham

Skinned

Photographic

 Body Art Painted Model Photographed

“No one in the world needs a mink coat but a mink”. ‘Skinned’ draws on this notion and explicitly depicts the torturous process of being skinned alive and confronts the viewer with the dark side of the fashion industry as high fashion model is the creature that is skinned. The conspicuous consumption of generation Y is a growing phenomenon, where the societal pressure online and off is felt daily when generation ‘me’ dress themselves.  Persuaded and influenced by the rich and famous, authentic fur and leather has become idolised and seen as glamourous, a revolution in fashion since fur was originally a tool of survival. Glamorisation and the controversial fashion trend of dead animals is not acceptable and demonised by such organisations such as Peta, yet can still be seen on many international fashion houses runways. I ask you what is so alluring about wearing another dead creature’s skin, would you wear human skin?

Amber Ayton

A Look-Alike Society

Photographic

 Body Art Painted Model Photographed

My piece is an exploration of the positives and negatives allied with human cloning. This focus was forged from my suspicions and concerns surrounding the success of cloning and how this would disrupt the equilibrium of our societal structure and our future evolution. I have created these images by painting myself black and adding fluorescent paint mixed with sugar to create the green and pink dots. These represent the range of benefits human cloning aspires, but also the side effects it augments. I was inspired to create this piece by Hid Said who develops similar medias and concepts.

Jackson Bisset

U.Man 2.0’

Perspex Sclupture

‘U.Man 2.0’ represents the human body’s potential to be overwhelmed by technology as we, the human race, evolve.  By placing an overlay of electronics on the appropriated ‘Vitruvian Man’ a symbolic message has been suggested for what could occur if technology continues to be implemented so heavily in our lives. The image of Leonardo Da Vinci’s most recognisable art work with diagrammatical circuit board patterns inlayed within its form as created an unsettling juxtaposition between old and new, historical and futuristic. When viewed from the front of the art work all the pieces align to form the iconic Vitruvian man posture of the human form yet altered to incorporate technology and the possible future of the human race as we continue along evolution’s pathway. 

Jess Jacobs

Manifestations

Mixed media

My artwork Manifestations, was created with inktense pencils, watercolour, inks, white and black pen, tea, alcohol, coffee, wood and bitumen paint. It is a representation of growth and change focusing on delirium and how it affects a person mentally. The use of alcohol, coffee and tea is symbolic of stimulants that when overused can cause delirium and other mental health issues. Agnes Cecile and Carne Griffiths were artists that heavily influenced my work through their style and use of media. The splashes and flecks of scribbled tar around the subject’s split face echoes the darkness that often surrounds people living with delirium or mental health issues. The split face, half-screaming half-exhausted presents how internally, people suffer quietly and deal with intense pressure and emotion that often renders them unrecognisable, significantly impacting their identity and personality. The smaller faces surrounding the subject and the crows tangled within her hair are a reflection of her delirium and haunting hallucinations that erode her.

Jessica Jacob

disCONNECTED

Mixed media

Created as a representation of society’s dependence on technology, disCONNECTED is moulded around human evolution regarding our overuse of technology. We have developed so much as a result of our technological advancements. Travel, communication and everyday life has become a lot simpler, however now it is taking over our lives and beginning to blur the boundaries of reality. The mixed media figures are tanged within wires, isolated by their own connection to technology. Created to look surreal and drawing inspiration from Paolo Trolio, the anguish and overwhelmed emotion in the middle figure is a representation of the changes so much time in front of a computer screen causes to a person’s life, how their reality is blurred between who they are online and what they are, disconnected from the people around them as they try to connect to the online population on other sides of the world.Through the use of electrical wires as well as cables that are painted, you lose the ability to tell the difference between reality and what isn’t.