Completed amid the anxiety during the lockdown, ‘Emergence’ represents a message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Bella said she was expressing the duality of identity in her painting – the confused, conflicted self in the first panel and the enlightened self in the second.
“The opaque water in both represents the omnipresent, inextricable circumstances we must learn to navigate,” she said.
“My intent is to inspire everyone to turn their attention away from the tumultuous unpredictability of the external world and instead look inwards to build resilience, to say ‘I made it through. Here I am’.”
A NSW Department of Education spokesperson said last year’s students had persevered through a difficult year full of disruptions, yet achieved outstanding results through creativity.
“In this collection you will be able to see a range of approaches and expressive forms used by the artists including graphic design, drawing, painting, printmaking, photomedia, ceramics, textiles, sculptures and more,” the spokesperson said.
For more info, visit artexpress.artsunit.nsw.edu.au.
‘Emergence’ wins place in showcase
AN annual showcase of the best of HSC Visual Art student works, Artexpress is on offer at the NSW Art Gallery until April 25, with this year’s exhibition featuring ‘Emergence’ by former Sefton High School student Bella Luu.