VCA ART 2021

Nur Shkembi

A wondrous thing

Gathering together a group of artists through a curatorial rationale often requires a series of threads or ideas. On this occasion I am indulging and taking a broad curatorial sweep to share the brilliance of these stellar graduates of 2021. Contemporary art is a wondrous thing, not only because it holds what is beautiful, powerful, naïve, knowing, and at times that which is mundane, or even grotesque or frightening, but also because it is a necessary human function. Artists are rare creatures sent among us to do the things we only wish we could do. They document and hold truth, create fiction, protest, lament, discover and reimagine – some experiment with the medium itself – stretching and warping materials, technology and our imaginations through an ever-evolving visual vernacular. The artists have powered through yet another onerous year of lockdowns to bring forth art in all its rapturous forms. And in that I observe moments of what art historian Geeta Kapur describes as the audacious proposition of seeing the “history of art in conjunction with the history of humanity”.

Moonis Ahmad Shah, Accidentally Miraculous Everyday from that Heaven , Photogrammetry, Video Projection, Suspended Cube, 2021. Photograph by Aaron Christopher Rees.
Ezz Monem, In search of Mohamed, Multi-channel video and sound, 35mm slides, Kodak Ektapro slide projectors, CRT TVs, bronze, 2021. Courtesy of THIS IS NO FANTASY. Documentation by ALEC.
Miream Salameh, Missing Once In, Reborn Once Out, Raw clay and metal, 2021. Documentation by Damon Amb.
Miream Salameh, Missing Once In, Reborn Once Out, Raw clay and metal, 2021. Documentation by Damon Amb.
Hakira Coleman-Wilson, Minma Kutjara, Twine, cotton and thread, 2021.
Hakira, Minma Kutjara, Twine, thread and yarn, 2021. Documentation by ALEC.
Lisa Waup, LOST, Cotton rag paper (350gsm Somerset), ink, cotton thread, adhesive, dyed hand-rolled string, assorted feathers, possum skin, reflective thread, 2021. Documentation by ALEC.
Lisa Waup, LOST (detail), drypoint prints (37.5 cm x 28.5 cm each), cotton rag paper (Somerset), ink, cotton thread, adhesive, hand-dyed rolled strings and variety of feathers, possum skin, 2021.
Melanie Cobham, Wo/ander, Handwoven tapestries, brass, 2021. Documentation by ALEC.
Melanie Cobham, Wo/ander, Handwoven tapestries, brass support, 2021.
Darren Tanny Tan, By A Thousand Cuts (Installation view), 2021.
Darren Tanny Tan, Supplices Chinois (detail), Steel, wood, acrylic, reproduced postcards, 2021.
Claire Bridge, 'rupture: repattern: repair', Master of Contemporary Art Graduation Exhibition, installation view, Single channel video projection, sound, glazed stoneware ceramic, steel, wood, concrete, wax, natural pearls, copper, 2021. Image courtesy the artist.
Claire Bridge, From which all emerges and returns, glazed stoneware ceramic, 50 x 50 x 11.5 cm, 2021. Image courtesy the artist.
Ebony Hoiberg, There your heart will always be, Installation, 2021. Documentation by Claire Lambe.
Ebony Hoiberg, There your heart will always be, Installation, 2021. Documentation by Claire Lambe.
Alex Smith, Tesseract, Sunset lamp, wood, hot glue, fishing line, 2021. Documentation by ALEC.
Alex Smith, Flux, Digital drawing/ archival print, 2021.
Youjia Lu, Indeterminate Self, PhD Exhibition, Video Installation, 2021. Documentation by Dan Preston
Youjia Lu, Indeterminate Self, PhD Completion Exhibition, Video Installation, 2021. Documentation by Dan Preston

Nur Shkembi

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We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands upon which our campus is situated, the Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nations, who have created art, made music and told their stories here for thousands of generations. We also acknowledge and extend our respect to the Traditional Owners of all lands on which our work is viewed, shared and enjoyed, and to all Elders, past, present and emerging.

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