Floribunda
In June, Year 12 VCE Art Making and Exhibiting students were fortunate to explore the exhibition Floribunda, at Bunjil Place, in a major partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria. Floribunda featured 156 works from the NGV. The exhibition was an intoxicating larger-than-life mashup of floral imagery, design and motifs drawn exclusively from the NGV Collection
Floribunda celebrates and reimagines the nature and significance of various works including Decorative Arts, Fashion and Textiles, Painting, First Nations Australia and Pacific Art, with the selection of works spans multiple histories, cultures and art forms. Featuring poignant still life painting, couture embellished with swirls of floral pattern, and objects lavishly adorned with buds and blooms, Floribunda connects human experience with the beauty and poetic symbolism of flowers.
Students investigated the conservation of artworks in the exhibition, with NGV Assistant Director of Conservation Michael Varcoe-Cocks.
The talk addressed VCE AME Unit 4, Area of Study 3, Outcome 3. Michael spoke about the conservation processes and procedures required to get the items ready for display. It was a fascinating ‘behind the scenes’ exploration that was riveting as well as wonderful preparation for upcoming studies into the conservation and preservation of artforms for VCE Art ME. Each student also received a delightful seed packet from the show that included indigenous flowers that they could then plant and grow, continuing the themes shown in the works.
Frida Kahlo: In her own image
On Monday 12 May, Years 10, 11 & 12 Visual Art students assembled early in the morning for a daytrip to Bendigo Gallery to explore Frida Kahlo: In her own image. Accompanied by Mr Lauret, Mrs Waud & Nadia Mercuri, students were awestruck as the exhibition presented an intimate view of one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. The exclusive exhibition featured Kahlo’s personal belongings, clothing, make-up, accessories, and medical items, on loan from the Museo Frida Kahlo in Mexico for the first time in Australia.
It was a fascinating, intelligent and carefully curated exhibition that helped us as an audience appreciate how Bendigo Gallery brought a fuller version of Kahlo to life, beyond her paintings and drawings that she is traditionally known for. The exhibition design was supported by a range of media such as information panels and text labels, including some labels for children which were delightful, an auditory backdrop that included a play list of music inspired by Kahlo, along with digital displays depicting a hummingbird, which was associated with the symbology of Kahlo’s work. The experience certainly had the students considering if any of their personal items were chosen for display, what that ‘artefact’ could potentially communicate to an audience. It was a visual feast that was, at times, surprisingly emotional as we glimpsed a selection of the personal artefacts of such and iconic artist.
Rachel Waud
Head of Visual Art and Design
