November 30, 2015

Illawarra artists shine at graduation exhibition

Wollongong’s next crop of artists have wowed local audiences at the launch of annual grad show.

Wollongong’s next crop of artists have wowed local audiences at the launch of the annual UOW School of the Arts, English and Media Graduation Exhibition, It’s Here. 

The exhibition draws together students from a range of disciplines and practices, reflecting a rich eclectic mix that gives an insight into the kaleidoscope of talent emerging in Wollongong’s arts scene.  

Exhibition coordinator, and Creative Arts lecturer Penny Harris said the works by graduating students this year were of a very high standard. 

“The students works are diverse. From painting, sculpture and multimedia. I think people who come and see the show will be really impressed.” 

Creative Arts student Clarese Minns has deconstructed then reconstructed a piano with a difference. Called “Piano, video and sound”, the art installation is a multimedia masterpiece.

“Since a very young age, I’ve always loved art and music. I think both art and music have the power to heal,” she said. 

Another student artist Zema Chulio has created three intuitively anti-authoritarian and non-conformist sculptural works are a combination of maps, video, cog mechanisms, steel and polystyrene. 

According to Zema, his works investigate the relationships that link the industrial military complex of late capitalist society with the cultural propaganda insidiously disseminated as popular entertainment through the pervasive tools of mass media. 

“Over the past three years, I’ve really enjoyed the study. As a mature aged student my work has a message. I want people to question and think about the world in which we live.” 

UOW students can look forward to a bright future in the arts industry, with a recent Careers in Australia Report showing the arts and recreational services industry has had the strongest job growth in Australia over the past two years. 

The exhibition runs across two UOW campuses. Digital Media and Media Arts Exhibition, in association with TAFE Illawarra, is on at Innovation Campus until the 11 December and the Visual Arts and Graphic Design Exhibition is on at the Creative Arts Building, UOW Main Campus until 18 December.  

For more photos of the exhibition, see UOW Photography on Flickr.