26 October – 13 November 2011

HONOURS, BACHELOR OF FINE ART X 5

Exhibitions by 5 Honours, BFA candidates, to be opened by Brett Alexander, artist and lecturer at the University of Newcastle, at 6.30 pm, Thursday 27 October.

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still wet
AMY HILL

Quite simply, I’m obsessed. I have this fascination, this fixation, with the naked female figure. There is nothing more beautiful, honest and strange than a naked body - so why not use it as a canvas? I take great joy in watching the way paint moves over skin, experimenting with how it drips and flows. My practice rejoices in the body, especially the female form. I reclaim the details of the body, the parts that are disregarded, veiled or digitally mediated that make the body enthralling, weird and unique. My process allows me to reveal the body the way I see it; both beautiful and utterly odd.

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Dream-States
ZOE ALLEN

This body of work looks at the feminine, fairytales, dream states and creatures from mythology. While these subjects have influenced my artwork, one of the main areas which informs my work is escapism. Whilst creating I am transported into another realm where I am untouchable. These images are also affected by dreams and dream states which I experience on a regular basis. These works are intended to encourage the imagination to wander into another place or time where whimsical creatures exist and the ability to dream and get in touch with one’s inner child is evoked.  Zoe Allen

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Spectrum of Emotions
Leasha Craig

Depression and anxiety are illnesses on the increase within our society. Many people have been touched by depression and/or anxiety, whether it is themselves, a friend, family member or partner. Within my work I depict my perception of the feelings that depression and anxiety induce. Through my practice I have gained an increased understanding of these illnesses which I share with the audience to encourage empathy. My interpretation and visual expression of this emotional turmoil encourages us to reach out, realising the effect we can have on one another.  Leasha Craig

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Outside the Interior
RACHAEL IRELAND

We have two kinds of interiors—the psyche within the body, the body within the house— nestled within each another like concentric circles. Each of these interiors is created by an exterior that encloses it; every interior is also an exterior… Outside the Interior plays with the experience of internal space and the relationship we have with the outside world through our home, specifically, the Australian landscape. This body of work examines the relationship between self, home and landscape: the personal, the domestic and the Australian interior. It asks the question who, what or where is outside? Utilising light and movement, projected images, and translucent material, these constructed images sit ambiguously at the threshold of the domestic interior.   Rachael Ireland

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Perceivable Improvements:
Art in the hospital as part of a holistic approach to health
ABBEY CECIL

The visible environment impacts on our state of mind. Engaging with visual stimuli can influence our thought patterns and the way that we process emotions, contributing to our ability to heal and be healthy, physically and mentally. The hospital as a healing environment is paramount to contemporary society. My thesis examines how the inclusion of art in hospitals benefits patients, visitors and staff. I explore the efficacy and implications of using art to create a visual environment that is conducive to healing and health promotion. I have compiled a report on the John Hunter Hospital’s Arts for Health programs, which has contributed to a greater understanding of art programs in a hospital setting and provided a basis for directed research in my exegesis.  Abbey Cecil