SMH: Surprise! The pandemic improved the standard of drawing in Australia

SMH: Surprise! The pandemic improved the standard of drawing in Australia

by Danielle Neely

Article by John McDonald

Events such as the 2021 Dobell Drawing Prize at the National Art School Gallery serve as reminders of the many kinds of activity permitted by an expanded definition of “drawing”. The Dobell Foundation can be pleased with the quality of the 2021 entries, which may be due to the esteem in which this award is held, or simply indicate that artists were able to spend more time in the studio during the pandemic year. There’s nothing more conducive to art than a crisis, and the number of works that refer directly or obliquely to the lockdown suggests the virus has played a significant role in the make-up of this year’s show. It will go down as one of the more unusual side-effects of COVID-19 that it seems to have improved the standard of drawing in Australia

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Image: Catherine O’Donnell, Waiting for the world to reopen (detail), 2020, charcoal on paper, 180 × 97.5 cm, Courtesy the artist and Dominik Mersch Gallery

Introducing Maram Hassan Al-Zaidi @maram_hassan52, Bruno Bersten @bruno_bersten and Kika Baker @k1kakereru, three of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
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Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
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Maram Hassan Al-Zaidi, ‘Dance of the Soul’, 2024, raku clay, glaze, silk abaya, glass, 60 x 35 x 20cm.
Bruno Bersten, ‘Amalgam Effigies’, 2024, mixed media, 100 x 50 x 10cm.
Kika Baker, ‘Diablo Red’, 2024, bonnet and fabric, 100 x 145cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Nov 22

Introducing Maram Hassan Al-Zaidi @maram_hassan52, Bruno Bersten @bruno_bersten and Kika Baker @k1kakereru, three of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Maram Hassan Al-Zaidi, ‘Dance of the Soul’, 2024, raku clay, glaze, silk abaya, glass, 60 x 35 x 20cm.
Bruno Bersten, ‘Amalgam Effigies’, 2024, mixed media, 100 x 50 x 10cm.
Kika Baker, ‘Diablo Red’, 2024, bonnet and fabric, 100 x 145cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Introducing Grace Buckley @louisegracearts, Samuel Chan @__szwc, Olivia Lindgaard @olivialindgaaaard and Cooper Holland-Hughes @_cooper_hh_, four of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
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Grace Buckley, ‘Tassel Girl’, 2024, found stool, upholstery, pins, thread, fringe, 40 x 33 x 35cm.
Samuel Chan, ‘Embrace’, 2024, resin, stainless steel meat hook, 47 x 14.5 x 9.5cm.
Olivia Lindgaard, ‘Asphyxiated’, 2024, wood and plastic, dimensions variable.
Cooper Holland-Hughes, ‘Machine for Feeling’, 2024, found object, ceramic, dimensions variable.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Nov 22

Introducing Grace Buckley @louisegracearts, Samuel Chan @__szwc, Olivia Lindgaard @olivialindgaaaard and Cooper Holland-Hughes @_cooper_hh_, four of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Grace Buckley, ‘Tassel Girl’, 2024, found stool, upholstery, pins, thread, fringe, 40 x 33 x 35cm.
Samuel Chan, ‘Embrace’, 2024, resin, stainless steel meat hook, 47 x 14.5 x 9.5cm.
Olivia Lindgaard, ‘Asphyxiated’, 2024, wood and plastic, dimensions variable.
Cooper Holland-Hughes, ‘Machine for Feeling’, 2024, found object, ceramic, dimensions variable.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Introducing Trey Martin @sadisticpaintbrush, Ruby McVicar @tyropa, Nikki Poulos @nikkipoulos_ and Adelash Parsons @adelashparsons, four of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Trey Martin, ‘Effigy Peaks’, 2024, ceramic, 29 x 30 x 25cm.
Ruby McVicar, ‘Comforts’, 2024, wooden chair, stones, 100 x 45 x 45cm.
Nikki Poulos, ‘This is not an artwork’, 2024, found object, text, 110 x 40 x 40cm.
Adelash Parsons, ‘Untitled’, 2024, mixed media, dimensions variable.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Nov 22

Introducing Trey Martin @sadisticpaintbrush, Ruby McVicar @tyropa, Nikki Poulos @nikkipoulos_ and Adelash Parsons @adelashparsons, four of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Trey Martin, ‘Effigy Peaks’, 2024, ceramic, 29 x 30 x 25cm.
Ruby McVicar, ‘Comforts’, 2024, wooden chair, stones, 100 x 45 x 45cm.
Nikki Poulos, ‘This is not an artwork’, 2024, found object, text, 110 x 40 x 40cm.
Adelash Parsons, ‘Untitled’, 2024, mixed media, dimensions variable.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Introducing Ruby Quoyle @rubbadubbaboo.2, Amelia Rose @rrose_amelia and Jeremy Rotenstein @artofishal, three of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
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Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Ruby Quoyle, ‘Tracy’, 2024, plastic chair, wig, 83 x 49 x 52cm.
Amelia Rose, ‘Unruly Possession’, 2024, soy wax, glass, London plane tree pollen, dirt, copper, synthetic pillow, polyethylene wax, thread, cable, push pin, dimensions variable.
Jeremy Rotenstein, ‘The Eagle’, 2024, sandstone, 32 x 20 x 27cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Nov 22

Introducing Ruby Quoyle @rubbadubbaboo.2, Amelia Rose @rrose_amelia and Jeremy Rotenstein @artofishal, three of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Ruby Quoyle, ‘Tracy’, 2024, plastic chair, wig, 83 x 49 x 52cm.
Amelia Rose, ‘Unruly Possession’, 2024, soy wax, glass, London plane tree pollen, dirt, copper, synthetic pillow, polyethylene wax, thread, cable, push pin, dimensions variable.
Jeremy Rotenstein, ‘The Eagle’, 2024, sandstone, 32 x 20 x 27cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Introducing Lindy Yoannidis @lindyyo and Magic Young @magicsartgallery, two of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
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Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Lindy Yoannidis, ‘Untamed’, 2024, sticks, gauze, ink, zip ties, PVA glue, dimensions variable.
Magic Young, ‘Evulva’, 2024, inflatable, 400cm x 250cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Nov 22

Introducing Lindy Yoannidis @lindyyo and Magic Young @magicsartgallery, two of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Lindy Yoannidis, ‘Untamed’, 2024, sticks, gauze, ink, zip ties, PVA glue, dimensions variable.
Magic Young, ‘Evulva’, 2024, inflatable, 400cm x 250cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

The National Art School is proud to present The Grad Show, 6 – 15 December 2024, our major end-of-year exhibition showcasing the work of our 2024 Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) graduates.
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
RSVP for the Opening Night at the link in bio.

Nov 21

The National Art School is proud to present The Grad Show, 6 – 15 December 2024, our major end-of-year exhibition showcasing the work of our 2024 Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) graduates.
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
RSVP for the Opening Night at the link in bio.