Latest news with #ArtGalleryofWA
Perth Now
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Art Gallery of WA celebrates next generation of fashion designers in The West Australian Pulse
The next generation of WA fashion designers were greeted by a sellout crowd as they showed their creations in a high-energy runway show on Saturday night. The West Australian Pulse, the Art Gallery of WA's annual celebration of talent, passion and creativity, showcased the work of fashion and design students from North Metro TAFE, South Metro TAFE, Curtin and Edith Cowan universities. This year's catwalk parade was dedicated to the memory of fashion designer and AGWA collaborator Aurelio Costarella, who died in April. The fashion show, which featured WA's top fashion graduates and emerging names, is part of AGWA's annual celebration of art created by young people. It coincides with The West Australian Pulse visual arts exhibition, chosen from the best works submitted by Year 12 graduates. With the demise of Perth Fashion Festival in 2018, Pulse has become an essential annual runway experience for student designers. Around 115 student volunteers — including designers, dressers, apprentice hairdressers, makeup artists and ushers — rolled up their sleeves and donated their time backstage to help the show run smoothly.
West Australian
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Your Week: The next gen of WA creatives, an alternative music festival and more happening this week in Perth
Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25, Art Gallery of WA, Perth A celebration of emerging creativity, get ready for two days of art, fashion, and design. On Saturday afternoon, the next generation of visual artists will be giving free artist talks from 2-4pm. Hear from some Pulse 2025 exhibitors about their inspirations, creative processes and post-high school plans. As the sun sets, the spotlight shifts to the third annual Pulse Fashion Show. From 6.30pm, enjoy a runway event showcasing emerging designers from WA's TAFEs and universities. Expect daring silhouettes, sustainable designs, and cutting-edge artistry. On Sunday from 9.30am, the AGWA Rooftop will host the Second Life Markets, a curated selection of vintage fashion and unique finds from some of Perth's best collectors. It's a massive celebration of WA's creative future. Artist talks are free. Pulse Fashion Show $38 to $45 and Second Life Markets $6 to $15. Tickets from Tuesday, May 27, to Sunday, July 13, Raine Square, Perth To celebrate National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week, Raine Square is hosting a seven-week long immersive festival of First Nations art and culture. There will be music, dance, storytelling, visual art, fashion, workshops and live radio. Highlights include Ash Garlett Penfold, Lilly Gogos and Starsan Roe. The program reflects the theme The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. Free. For more info visit Tuesday, May 27, 8pm, Regal Theatre, Subiaco Fans of the show Mo on Netflix will be well acquainted with the wit of Mohammed Amer, a celebrated Palestinian-American stand-up comedian. He also co-starred in the show Ramy on Stan and was in the DC film Black Adam. Tickets $84.95 to $115.55 from Ticketek Friday, May 30, Amplifier Bar, Perth, Saturday, May 31, The River Hotel, Margaret River, and Sunday, June 1, Indian Ocean Hotel, Scarborough Frontman of 80s rockers Craig Bloxom lands in WA with his new band RSPYS. Expect to hear classic vSPY vSPY hits, including Don't Tear It Down, Harry's Reasons, Sallie-Anne, Credit Cards, Hardtimes but with a reggae/rock edge. Organisers are promising an electrifying tribute to one of the county's most iconic bands. Tickets $44.90 to $45.30 from Oztix Friday, May 30, 6.30pm and Saturday, May 31 (sold out), Melville Main Hall, Booragoon. Vikki Thorn (The Waifs, Thornbird, The Red Tails) and Noongar artist Maatakitj join up with the Tender Is The Night string quartet to reimagine their songs with a blend of classic and contemporary influences. BYO picnic rugs, cushions, snacks and drinks, or take a seat and enjoy the show. Tickets $40 from Friday, May 30, to Sunday, June 8, The Naval Store, PS Art Space, and The Buffalo Club, Fremantle This winter music festival brings a boundary pushing line-up of acts to warm your soul as the weather turns cold. Highlights of this year's festival include US singer-songwriter Jessica Pratt and New York rock band DIIV. Set across three intimate venues and with plenty of local acts to check out, this is one worth getting down to. Tickets $25 to $80 from Humantix
Perth Now
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Great-grandfather immortalised at AGWA Pulse exhibition
'Are you famous?' A student from Blue Gum Montessori School in Bibra Lake asked Lola Beagley during a tour of The West Australian Pulse exhibition this week. Ms Beagley is 'Pulse-famous', as one of 61 talented youngsters featured in this year's showcase of Year 12 visual arts graduates, which opened on May 3 at the Art Gallery of WA. The 18-year-old from Gidgegannup immortalised her beloved great-grandfather, Melvin Bristow, in a painting and projection work titled Reflections of Light, Life and Love. The Narembeen wheat farmer died in 2023 at age 98, while Ms Beagley was in her final year at Swan Christian College in Middle Swan. Encouraged by visual arts teacher Cherie Mongony, Ms Beagley spent around 15 weeks painting a poignant portrait of her 'Pa.' Lola Beagley (Swan Christian College): Reflections of Light, Life and Love. Credit: Photo: Christophe Canato / TheWest 'Our theme was perspectives and personal identity, so I wanted to portray my value of family,' she said. She used a favourite photograph to paint Mr Bristow fondly looking at a slideshow of images from his life in the Wheatbelt, some of which appear on the painting via an acetone tissue transfer. Mr Bristow grew up on the family farm in Narembeen before taking over from his father. 'He was a farmer through and through,' Ms Beagley said. The painting faces a wall onto which photos from Mr Bristow's life are projected. 'He has a glint in his eye,' Ms Beagley said. 'He was good at athletics as a kid, and my siblings and I are pretty active and like sports, so he used to talk about his running.' Mr Bristow was also a fan of Jack Russell terriers, which feature in the slideshow alongside horses, old farm equipment and plenty of family snapshots. 'I was really lucky to have a good relationship with my great-grandparents,' she said. 'Whenever we could, we would see them.' Ms Beagley's great-grandmother Iris Bristow turns 100 in June. Lola Beagley is among the talented Year 12 graduates in this year's The West Australian Pulse exhibition thanks to her lovely portrait of her late great-grandfather. Credit: Michael Wilson / The West Australian Ms Beagley is studying nursing at Edith Cowan University in Joondalup but plans to continue painting as a hobby. 'It's a good creative outlet and good for mental health,' she said. She said she feels 'super privileged and proud' to have her painting, which is 'definitely staying in the family,' in this year's Pulse exhibition. 'It's an honour to have my work part of this.' Or as one of the Blue Gum students put it: 'That's so cool.' The West Australian Pulse exhibition is free and runs to August 31.
West Australian
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Ten works not to miss at this year's stunning The West Australian Pulse exhibition
Life and death. Family, faith and grief. Identity, anxiety and exams. Food. All that and much more is put through the creative lens of 61 young artists from 37 schools starring in The West Australian Pulse exhibition , opening at the Art Gallery of WA on May 3. The 33rd survey of Year 12 visual arts graduates offers priceless insight into what makes young people tick. There are self-portraits bemoaning the pressures of study, peers and body image alongside artists tackling big picture concerns, ranging from the environment and homelessness to technology and mental health. Several explore identity, especially ethnicity. And then there's some lovely tributes to beloved family members, including one artist's late cat. Beyond the opportunity to explore the inner workings of the Class of 2024, this year's Pulse showcases an incredibly high calibre of technique ranging from detailed figurative paintings to eye-popping multi-media works and even vibrant 'coral reefs' crocheted out of wool, cotton, beads, plastic bags and other textiles. Once again, anyone venturing into AGWA before the free exhibition ends on August 31 will be richly rewarded, and perhaps buoyed by the enormous potential of this talented generation. Gallery visitors can meet the artists on May 3 from 2pm-4pm, when the stars of Pulse 2025 share the stories behind their artworks. Worthy mentions go to Elizabeth McFarlane from Applecross Senior High School for Fleeting, Fleecing, a sharply polemic series of prints on hand-made paper skewering successive Australian leaders' failure to Close the Gap; Wesley College grad Ben Ioannou's heartfelt sculptural exploration of emotional milestones; Iona Presentation College alumnus Charley-Marie Travia's evocative study of a past life in Stored Away; and Corpus Christi's Xavia Variyan for her eye-catching silkscreen creation. Reproduction in newsprint won't do these pieces justice. Here are 10 more standout works to give readers a taste of Pulse '25. ANGEL PAPALAZAROS Chisholm Catholic College Hellenic Habitat A Greek goddess vacuums a suburban living room in Papalazaros' irreverent diptych exploring Greek immigration and cultural identity within Australian society. The exterior scene is set in the 1970s, blending suburbia with traditional Greek elements – a celebration of the efforts many migrants put into their gardens. Meanwhile, the interior reflects the décor of the era with an ornate table lamp, cane furniture and gaudy colour scheme. 'The male and female figures highlight the traditional gender roles of time, reflecting the fluidity of cultural change inspired by my Greek immigrant grandparents' journey,' Papalazaros explains of a work sure to please any Yiayia visiting AGWA. BRODIE ROWAND St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls Ruby Reverie Rowand reflects on losing close friend Stella Berry, who was killed by a shark while swimming in the Swan River in 2023. The striking oil on plywood work features the artist's own red ball dress as a metaphor for her own transition through grief. 'The empty, suspended silhouettes against a turbulent ocean and sky represent the absence of my friend and the feeling of being trapped in time,' explains Rowand, who dedicates this incredible work to Berry. 'Oil paint allowed me to capture the smooth textures and emotions of grief, with the repeated dresses symbolising reflection, lost and the passage of time.' TYSON BARWOOD Hale School Graff ft. me Barwood sculpted his own Mini-Me out of white paper clay before completing the three-dimensional cartoon figure using acrylic and spray paint plus real zirconium earrings. 'The intention … was to capture a thoughtful, reflective mood, offering me a new way to explore my identity and the world of graffiti,' he says. While not the most enigmatic of works in this year's Pulse, there's something likeably naïve, cheeky yet honest about this spiky-haired self-portrait. LOLA BEAGLEY Swan Christian College Reflections of Light, Life and Love In possibly the most sentimental of 2025's crop, Beagley captures the profound sense of gratitude and self-reflection her grandfather experienced in the final years of his life. 'As Pa grew older, he often expressed appreciation for the time he had lived and the days still ahead,' Beagley says. The subject sits proudly in front of a wall of photographs, each a snapshot of cherished moments. These will project on a wall opposite the painting as visitors join Beagley's beloved Pa in viewing a slideshow of a life well lived. This is a lovely work. No, you're crying. MENA TABESHFAR Shenton College State Capture Woodside chief Meg O'Neill shares the canvas with an endangered numbat in this widescreen two-part oil, silkscreen and silicone collage taking aim at the Burrup Hub and other 'destructive' projects. In her accompanying statement, Tabeshfar says her artwork is an homage to the Disrupt Burrup Hub protested who sprayed the Woodside logo on Frederick McCubbin's iconic painting Down on His Luck at AGWA in 2023. Have a close lock at State Capture, see how many politicians you can spot amongst the newspaper headlines. CLAIRE HAYE Canning Vale College Vibrant, Vanished Taking a literally softer approach to environmental issues via textile art, Haye crocheted vibrant coral forms from colourful cotton yarn. She bleached material to depict the degradation of coral reefs due to man-made pollution. Vibrant, Vanished was constructed as a rug canvas, one side filled with colourful coral forms and the other with bleached ones. On the bleached side, Haye uses plastic bags to crochet entirely plastic coral forms. LUCY MCDERMID Iona Presentation College Gold Star McDermid gets a gold star for painting highly realistic foil balloons in this oil on canvas creation representing the pressures of Year 12, which start with 'initial buoyancy and confidence'. 'As time passes, the balloon gradually loses its lustre, mirroring the exhaustion that follows early enthusiasm,' she says. The final image of a helium tank suggests that buoyancy may return in a playful work inspired by Spanish artist Gemma Gene's hyper-realistic depictions of reflective objects. ZOE ROBINSON Methodist Ladies' College Aldinga How's this for originality? Robinson painted the rusty bonnet of a 1977 FJ 45 Landcruiser to portray her family history in rural Australia, most notably WA's Gidgegannup and Aldinga in South Australia. 'The bonnet's rust serves as a metaphor for decay and transformation,' she says. 'As the rust grows, the painting alters, creating a living evolving piece that mirrors the changing Australian landscape.' Robinson used polymer and spray paint, posca pens, coloured charcoal and rust guard to create her modern Aussie masterpiece. MANAMI TEO Kalamunda Senior High School Suisen Suisen is the Japanese word for daffodil. It's also the name of the Japanese takeaway restaurant in Bassendean owned by Teo's father, who is seen tirelessly toiling over a hot stove in this brilliant work. 'Despite his introverted nature, my dad is generous and hardworking,' Teo says. 'The chaotic kitchen — water running, utensils scattered and multiple dishes being prepared at once — reflects his dedication.' The painter used linseed oil to create layers and build texture to the flames to give the scene depth to a work inspired by Australian artist Vincent Fantauzzo, best known for his award-winning portraits of Heath Ledger, chef Matt Moran and wife Asher Keddie. Teo adds: 'I aimed to depict my dad as the heart of our family, captured in his element.' ZOE DARLING Guildford Grammar School Well-read Let's assume Darling got top marks for English Literature as well as art at Guildford. Inspired by AGWA's blockbuster RONE exhibition held in the same galleries as Pulse, Well-read combines painting with installation art to explore the relationship between fiction and reality. A face is overlaid with classic literature, including To Kill a Mockingbird, Frankenstein, The Handmaid's Tale and a book from Oscar Wilde, who said: 'Life imitates art'. 'Our lives are mirrored in their pages,' Darling insists. 'The artwork reflects how literature shapes our perceptions, with each book depicted carrying a commentary that deeply influenced me.' The West Australian Pulse 2025 is at the Art Gallery of WA from May 3 to August 31. The exhibition is free.
Perth Now
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
See the world through the eyes of our talented young artists
Life and death. Family, faith and grief. Identity, anxiety and exams. Food. All that and much more is put through the creative lens of 61 young artists from 37 schools starring in The West Australian Pulse exhibition, opening at the Art Gallery of WA on May 3. The 33rd survey of Year 12 visual arts graduates offers priceless insight into what makes young people tick. There are self-portraits bemoaning the pressures of study, peers and body image alongside artists tackling big picture concerns, ranging from the environment and homelessness to technology and mental health. Several explore identity, especially ethnicity. And then there's some lovely tributes to beloved family members, including one artist's late cat. Beyond the opportunity to explore the inner workings of the Class of 2024, this year's Pulse showcases an incredibly high calibre of technique ranging from detailed figurative paintings to eye-popping multi-media works and even vibrant 'coral reefs' crocheted out of wool, cotton, beads, plastic bags and other textiles. Once again, anyone venturing into AGWA before the free exhibition ends on August 31 will be richly rewarded, and perhaps buoyed by the enormous potential of this talented generation. Gallery visitors can meet the artists on May 3 from 2pm-4pm, when the stars of Pulse 2025 share the stories behind their artworks. Worthy mentions go to Elizabeth McFarlane from Applecross Senior High School for Fleeting, Fleecing, a sharply polemic series of prints on hand-made paper skewering successive Australian leaders' failure to Close the Gap; Wesley College grad Ben Ioannou's heartfelt sculptural exploration of emotional milestones; Iona Presentation College alumnus Charley-Marie Travia's evocative study of a past life in Stored Away; and Corpus Christi's Xavia Variyan for her eye-catching silkscreen creation. Reproduction in newsprint won't do these pieces justice. Here are 10 more standout works to give readers a taste of Pulse '25. ANGEL PAPALAZAROS Chisholm Catholic College Hellenic Habitat A Greek goddess vacuums a suburban living room in Papalazaros' irreverent diptych exploring Greek immigration and cultural identity within Australian society. The exterior scene is set in the 1970s, blending suburbia with traditional Greek elements – a celebration of the efforts many migrants put into their gardens. Meanwhile, the interior reflects the décor of the era with an ornate table lamp, cane furniture and gaudy colour scheme. 'The male and female figures highlight the traditional gender roles of time, reflecting the fluidity of cultural change inspired by my Greek immigrant grandparents' journey,' Papalazaros explains of a work sure to please any Yiayia visiting AGWA. Angel Papalazaros (Chisholm Catholic College): Hellenic Habitat. Credit: Photo: Christophe Canato BRODIE ROWAND St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls Ruby Reverie Rowand reflects on losing close friend Stella Berry, who was killed by a shark while swimming in the Swan River in 2023. The striking oil on plywood work features the artist's own red ball dress as a metaphor for her own transition through grief. 'The empty, suspended silhouettes against a turbulent ocean and sky represent the absence of my friend and the feeling of being trapped in time,' explains Rowand, who dedicates this incredible work to Berry. 'Oil paint allowed me to capture the smooth textures and emotions of grief, with the repeated dresses symbolising reflection, lost and the passage of time.' Brodie Rowand (St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls): Ruby Reverie. Credit: Photo: Christophe Canato TYSON BARWOOD Hale School Graff ft. me Barwood sculpted his own Mini-Me out of white paper clay before completing the three-dimensional cartoon figure using acrylic and spray paint plus real zirconium earrings. 'The intention … was to capture a thoughtful, reflective mood, offering me a new way to explore my identity and the world of graffiti,' he says. While not the most enigmatic of works in this year's Pulse, there's something likeably naïve, cheeky yet honest about this spiky-haired self-portrait. Tyson Barwood (Hale School): Graff ft. me. Credit: Photo: Christophe Canato LOLA BEAGLEY Swan Christian College Reflections of Light, Life and Love In possibly the most sentimental of 2025's crop, Beagley captures the profound sense of gratitude and self-reflection her grandfather experienced in the final years of his life. 'As Pa grew older, he often expressed appreciation for the time he had lived and the days still ahead,' Beagley says. The subject sits proudly in front of a wall of photographs, each a snapshot of cherished moments. These will project on a wall opposite the painting as visitors join Beagley's beloved Pa in viewing a slideshow of a life well lived. This is a lovely work. No, you're crying. Lola Beagley (Swan Christian College): Reflections of Light, Life and Love. Credit: Photo: Christophe Canato MENA TABESHFAR Shenton College State Capture Woodside chief Meg O'Neill shares the canvas with an endangered numbat in this widescreen two-part oil, silkscreen and silicone collage taking aim at the Burrup Hub and other 'destructive' projects. In her accompanying statement, Tabeshfar says her artwork is an homage to the Disrupt Burrup Hub protested who sprayed the Woodside logo on Frederick McCubbin's iconic painting Down on His Luck at AGWA in 2023. Have a close lock at State Capture, see how many politicians you can spot amongst the newspaper headlines. Mena Tabeshfar (Shenton College): State Capture Credit: Photo: Christophe Canato CLAIRE HAYE Canning Vale College Vibrant, Vanished Taking a literally softer approach to environmental issues via textile art, Haye crocheted vibrant coral forms from colourful cotton yarn. She bleached material to depict the degradation of coral reefs due to man-made pollution. Vibrant, Vanished was constructed as a rug canvas, one side filled with colourful coral forms and the other with bleached ones. On the bleached side, Haye uses plastic bags to crochet entirely plastic coral forms. Claire Haye (Canning Vale College): Vibrant, Vanished. Credit: Photo: Christophe Canato LUCY MCDERMID Iona Presentation College Gold Star McDermid gets a gold star for painting highly realistic foil balloons in this oil on canvas creation representing the pressures of Year 12, which start with 'initial buoyancy and confidence'. 'As time passes, the balloon gradually loses its lustre, mirroring the exhaustion that follows early enthusiasm,' she says. The final image of a helium tank suggests that buoyancy may return in a playful work inspired by Spanish artist Gemma Gene's hyper-realistic depictions of reflective objects. Lucy McDermid (Iona Presentation College): Gold Star Credit: Photo: Christophe Canato ZOE ROBINSON Methodist Ladies' College Aldinga How's this for originality? Robinson painted the rusty bonnet of a 1977 FJ 45 Landcruiser to portray her family history in rural Australia, most notably WA's Gidgegannup and Aldinga in South Australia. 'The bonnet's rust serves as a metaphor for decay and transformation,' she says. 'As the rust grows, the painting alters, creating a living evolving piece that mirrors the changing Australian landscape.' Robinson used polymer and spray paint, posca pens, coloured charcoal and rust guard to create her modern Aussie masterpiece. Zoe Robinson (Methodist Ladies' College): Aldinga Credit: Photo: Christophe Canato MANAMI TEO Kalamunda Senior High School Suisen Suisen is the Japanese word for daffodil. It's also the name of the Japanese takeaway restaurant in Bassendean owned by Teo's father, who is seen tirelessly toiling over a hot stove in this brilliant work. 'Despite his introverted nature, my dad is generous and hardworking,' Teo says. 'The chaotic kitchen — water running, utensils scattered and multiple dishes being prepared at once — reflects his dedication.' The painter used linseed oil to create layers and build texture to the flames to give the scene depth to a work inspired by Australian artist Vincent Fantauzzo, best known for his award-winning portraits of Heath Ledger, chef Matt Moran and wife Asher Keddie. Teo adds: 'I aimed to depict my dad as the heart of our family, captured in his element.' Manami Teo (Kalamunda Senior High School): Suisen Credit: Photo: Christophe Canato ZOE DARLING Guildford Grammar School Well-read Let's assume Darling got top marks for English Literature as well as art at Guildford. Inspired by AGWA's blockbuster RONE exhibition held in the same galleries as Pulse, Well-read combines painting with installation art to explore the relationship between fiction and reality. A face is overlaid with classic literature, including To Kill a Mockingbird, Frankenstein, The Handmaid's Tale and a book from Oscar Wilde, who said: 'Life imitates art'. 'Our lives are mirrored in their pages,' Darling insists. 'The artwork reflects how literature shapes our perceptions, with each book depicted carrying a commentary that deeply influenced me.' Zoe Darling (Guildford Grammar School): Well-read Credit: Photo: Christophe Canato The West Australian Pulse 2025 is at the Art Gallery of WA from May 3 to August 31. The exhibition is free.
