On Thursday 20 and Friday 21 August, the 2020 Senior Art Show, Art as Knowledge was held in the Honour Room, showcasing the work of our thirty-six Year 12 Visual Art students.
The exhibition was an opportunity to display the resolved artworks from our Year 12 students who have responded to the concept of Art as Knowledge as a part of the Senior Visual Art general syllabus. This task required students to conduct an investigation in response to an authentic stimulus experience in Term 4 of 2019, wherein they developed independent inquiry questions and a focus for their bodies of work. Despite disruptions to the 2020 school year, students have produced sophisticated and individualised works that explore ideas from personal, cultural, historical and contemporary contexts.
The exhibition culminated in a twilight event on Friday 21 August; an opportunity to celebrate with parents and friends, and to pay tribute to the hard work of the Year 12 students.
At this event, the Dr Elaine Katte Award was judged and presented by our special guest, Dr Charles Robb. Dr Robb is a contemporary artist, based in Brisbane. His work explores notions of subjectivity and incidental form explored through sculptural, digital and photographic media. His work has been seen in numerous group and solo exhibitions at venues including the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia in Melbourne, the Institute of Modern Art in Brisbane, the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts and Monash University Museum in Melbourne. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in Visual Art at the Queensland University of Technology.
The Dr Elaine Katte Award is a Speech Night award that recognises a student’s artwork displayed at either the Year 12 Art Show or Insight, judged by an external art practitioner or educator. The judge identifies an artwork which communicates clearly and effectively the student’s intention through refined visual language, techniques and processes.
This year, the Dr Elaine Katte Award was awarded to Eleanor G (12C), for her work 'Atman' which explored the idea of the sacred in our lives - be it religious, holy sacrosanct or just a personal quiet moment.
Commendations were awarded to Selina L (12D), for '18' and Isabelle H (12F) for 'Suppression Inventory'.
We sincerely thank Dr Charles Robb for acting as our judge for this award. His reflections on the work of our Senior students were insightful and provided valuable feedback about the impact that their work has on their audience.
It is with pleasure that we announce that the 2020 'People’s Choice Award' goes to Laura L (12O) for her photographic series 'Lights Trailing into the Darkness'.
Thanks go to the Visual Art teaching team, Mr Peter Whittred, Ms Philippa Comino, Mrs Trish Honeywill and Ms Rebecca Ayache, and to the students for their dedication and commitment in ensuring the success of this exhibition.
Ms Katy Ward
Head of Art