Now in its fourteenth year, First Class 21 continues to celebrate outstanding artworks produced by HSC Visual Arts students. This exhibition is a curated selection of the high calibre artworks produced at wide range of schools stretching from the Hunter, Upper Hunter and Central Coast regions. First Class 21 gives young artists the chance to present their artwork within a gallery environment and to a wide audience.
Employing a variety of expressive forms this year’s cohort have examined concepts encompassing identity, subjectivity, family memory, isolation, ecological responsibilities, fear and nostalgia. Intimate artworks explore complex connection between home, identity, personal relationships and culture. Many of the works highlight a vulnerability and sensitivity that offers an insight into the inter-related role of the artist, the artwork, the audience, and the world. A number of the artworks also pose questions to the viewer and prompt further introspection.
With society continuing to change rapidly, we see students experimenting and adopting techniques which employ new methods of artmaking. A number of the artworks reference well-known artists and artistic styles, while we also see the emergence of the student’s own visceral aesthetics in their practices.
Hear from some of the talented student artists whose work is on view as part of the First Class 21 exhibition with our artist interviews below.
Museum of Art and Culture (MAC), 1A First Street, Booragul 2284, Booragul 2284 View in Google Maps
1A First Street, Booragul 2284 , Booragul 2284