Visual Arts

Visual Arts Newsletter

The last week of Term 1 finished in a flurry of activity, which included the Year 11 and 12 Studio Arts students visiting the National Gallery of Victoria.  It was a jam-packed day, starting with an introductory talk by a gallery educator before entering the exhibition of Escher X Nendo.

For anyone who was fortunate enough to experience this exhibition, you will agree that it was truly spectacular. Some words that come to mind include mesmerising, reflective, inquisitive, precise and joyful; and those only describe the exhibition spaces! The artworks themselves from M.C. Escher – renowned graphic artist and prolific printmaker, were expertly woven into and displayed in the unique spaces designed by Japanese design studio Nendo, to reflect and pay homage to Escher’s lifetime of artistic works. His illusionary and mind-boggling compositions explore geometry, mathematics and warping reality through predominately intricate and expertly crafted prints.

After some time spent wandering through the transforming block houses and shrinking hallway, students took a lunch break before moving on to view Top Arts 2019 – an exhibition that showcases a selection of artworks from Year 12 students who have been deemed the top in the state, having received A or A+ marks for their folios.

An inspiring exhibition in itself, students were blown away with the talent displayed by students their own age (and at times a little perplexed, as is the nature of contemporary art).  As an additional bonus, students attended a special viewing of the folios themselves, gaining insight into the studio process each exhibiting student followed.  While overwhelming at times, seeing the amount of detail and effort that went into a year’s worth of Studio Arts, students came out abuzz with newfound inspirations to implement and trial in their own folios.

Gallery visits such as this are integral to the study of Studio Arts at a VCE level.  While Escher X Nendo was a paid exhibition, Top Arts and many other exhibitions are completely FREE ENTRY, so if you ever are in need of something to do at the weekend, a trip into the city and NGV is definitely worthwhile.  See the current and upcoming exhibitions at https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/.

Erin O'Sullivan

Art and Technology