Presence

Neighbourhoods 3-6 have taken on the. ‘Mystery Box Challenge’ with spirit, courage, patience, lots of laughter and hard work.

It began with a lucky dip & a box full of discarded and unusual materials. The challenge: work collaboratively to transform the materials found in your ‘mystery box’ into full body wearable art.

Students were encouraged to consider the materials use, lifecycle, and environmental impacts and to creatively transform the materials to create a new form. The challenge was to think with the materials in their box, and to discover, feel, and play with it. To be frustrated by it, sit with it, view it from a new perspective, be surprised by it, compose and share it.

Easy? Not when it’s a box full of unassuming sliced up cricket balls or 3 metres of aluminium ducting, materials fragmented, abandoned and lost.

Influenced by the work of Australian artist and photographer Gerwin Davies and American multidisciplinary artist Nick Cave Soundsuits, students have explored how the visual presence and the masking of the physical features of a wearer can; break down notions of identity, act as symbols of protection, protest and healing, and celebrate diversity and difference. Students have also been inspired by Australian-based environmental artist Marina Debris,’ ‘beach couture,’ and how her artwork makes us feel and forces us to think about the consequences of overconsumption and human behaviour on the planet.

Experimenting with performance and photography students explored presence; how their work occupies a space, how their materials move, sound and feel, what feelings their work evokes and message their artwork holds.

Its been a collaborative effort with each group having to find their own path. Their work is stunning, courageous and beautiful. It connects with you, asks questions, teaches. Congratulations to everyone for taking on the challenge with such great energy, its been an amazing wearable art journey !