Top Arts 2021

Congratulations to Regina Lu for being shortlisted for Top Arts 2021. 

Top Arts showcases the exceptional work of students who have completed Art or Studio Arts as part of their Victorian Certificate of Education in an extraordinary past year. It is an annual exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. Comprising work selected from applicants across Victoria, the exhibition encompasses a range of media, including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, digital and mixed media.

Regina has been shortlisted for her artwork "Looming Over Us." It is an Acrylic Painting on Canvas with eggshell impasto, including broken eggshells in the background as part of the conceptual ideas.  It depicts a chicken looming over a person dressed in business attire. The chicken symbolizes the large responsibilities that have been unfulfilled in our lives. Hence the presence of the chicken to the figure is overwhelming. Intentionally, the chicken's gaze is directed towards the figure, and is staring the figure down, questioning and daring their next move. This interaction between chicken and figure is connected to the location. The fields of grass represent growth, which both the main subject matter stand on. The larger hill is on the same side as the chicken rather than the small figure. This is a representation that more growth and development will occur when the chicken, a figurative symbolism of responsibility, is addressed. 

Regina has also received the Fairhills Art Acquisition Award for 2021. She has received the award for her artwork titled "If we know, do we not fall apart." It is an Acrylic Painting on Canvas with eggshell impasto. The canvas is 40X50cm. 

This artwork is painted on canvas with broken eggshell mixed with impasto in the background as part of her conceptual ideas. It is a portrait showing a distraught/distressed expression. She explored the concept of adolescence navigating a world that can be perceived as challenging, confronting and uncertain. She also looked at the concepts of Kintsugi and using gold to fill in cracks showing the art of precious scars and the beauty of cracks which can be seen in the wrinkles around the nose and eyes. It all links to the concept of a person's mental state when processing knowledge. The bird and eggshells also represented a seeking knowledge as a personal symbolism for her. Her intention was to include some optimism in it, alongside the distressed emotion of the face. We may fall apart but we can be put back together. 

Emma O'Connor

Studio Arts Teacher