IDENTITY & BELONGING

Exploring Identity and Belonging in Year 12 English

Our Year 12 English students have been engaging in a thought-provoking creative task as part of their study of the framework of ‘Country’. Drawing inspiration from Cassie Lynch’s short story ‘Split’, students explored how place shapes identity and belonging by representing a personally significant location in two different contexts.

Each student selected a place that holds meaning for them—ranging from bedrooms and gyms, to stadiums, concerts, shopping centres, workplaces, and the beach. They then created two artistic representations of this place: one depicting it in a busy, chronological time sequence, and the other capturing its quieter, introspective ‘deep time’ state. By layering these images using semi-transparent tracing paper, students visualised the intersections between different ways of experiencing place and time, mirroring Lynch’s portrayal of the Swan River as both the bustling accompaniment to present-day CBD, and the more intimate, spiritual Bilya.

This activity challenged students to reflect on their own connections to place, and how their perspectives shift depending on context. The final pieces showcase not only artistic creativity, but also deep engagement with the central notions of time, history, and identity.

Accompanying this write-up are images of students working through their creative process and their completed artworks. We encourage families to ask their Year 12 students about their chosen places, and the insights they gained through this exercise—it’s a wonderful opportunity to discuss how place influences our sense of self.