The youth of Western Australia contribute to our community in many important ways. One of these is through their unique artistic visions. Since 1991, Year 12 Perspectives has brought the results of our State’s youthful creative spirits to a wide audience. Featuring the work of Year 12 Visual Arts students, its appeal lies both in their demonstration of sheer artistic talent and their compelling visions that shake up how we perceive the world.

Key themes in this year’s exhibition are the impact of social media and new technologies on our experience of the world, environmental politics and the expression of newly formed identities. I must say I find it heartening to see the complex implications of these and other issues considered in the realm of art making. In a rapidly changing technological environment art clearly remains a necessary mode of dealing with matters central to our lives.

I would like to extend my thanks to this year’s judges: Jodine McBride (Department of Education and Training), Genevie Baker (Catholic Education Office), Yvonne Wiese

(Art Education Association of WA) and Robert Cook (Art Gallery of Western Australia). To all teachers, parents and friends who have provided support and encouragement to participating students I thank and congratulate you for your huge contribution. I’d also like to acknowledge the staff of the Art Gallery of Western Australia who worked so diligently to present this fine exhibition.

Most especially, however, I have a personal message to all the students selected to exhibit in this year’s exhibition: your work is truly remarkable. It looks incredible on our walls. In doing so, it boldly affirms the important contributions you are making to our community of Western Australia, and will continue to make. I offer my sincerest congratulations and wish you the very best of luck with your future creative endeavours!

I do hope you enjoy this online presentation.

Stefano Carboni, Director

Year 12 Perspectivesintroduction

The Year 12 Perspectives exhibition celebrates the creative expression of WA’s young artists. It shines a light on issues that are important to them, illuminates how they see the world and lets us marvel at their creative skill and imagination. Australian energy company, Santos, is very proud to support the Art Gallery of Western Australia as the Principal Exhibition Sponsor of this wonderful annual exhibition. At Santos, we believe that getting behind the community is central to what we are about, and in this instance we are delighted to support young West Australians in their creative zeal.  

Don’t forget to place your vote in the Santos Year 12 Perspectives People’s Choice Award. bit.ly/yr12vote.If your favourite artist is  chosen by the majoriy as their favourite you will go in the draw to win two tickets to enjoy Van Gogh, Dalí and Beyond: The World Reimagined coming to the Gallery June through to December 2013. Santos will

also present the artist voted as the most popular by the public with a trip to Adelaide for two including a tour of the Art Gallery of South Australia, and a prize for students form their winning school of a tour of the Van Gogh, Dalí and Beyond exhibition.

My sincere congratulations to all the artists featured in this year’s exhibition. Having your work take pride of place in our State Gallery is a fantastic accomplishment of which you should be very proud.

John AndersonSantos Vice President - WA & NT  

A message from John Anderson, Santos ltd, principal exhibition sponsor

Natsuho AkaiPerth Modern SchoolNippon 2012oil and acrylic on board, DVD players119 x 120 cm

In Nippon I aimed to use the cityscape to encapsulate the essence of contemporary Japanese culture, and to capture a singular, ephemeral moment within continuous cultural change. By compiling countless source images I have constructed a nameless, placeless cityscape, but one which is also instantly recognisable as being a product of Asian culture. I have used an inharmonious, kaleidoscopic colour palette to overwhelm the viewer by distracting the eye from the focal point.

Ashleigh AngusLake Joondalup Baptist CollegeMy disability 2012watercolour on paper, DVD moving imagevariable

The theme I explored is that of disability. I was inspired by my brother Calum who has Cerebral Palsy. I painted from his point of view as I attempted to project his inner feelings as well as the opinions of others that affect his inner self. The stop-motion animation creates a narrative to complement the watercolour illustration of my brother. I wanted to explore the possibilities of a world where Calum could be free of his disability.

Caitlin Barker-MalcolmSacred Heart CollegeNew game 2012oil and graphite on board67 x 183 cm

New game is about the fragility of the human state with specific reference to children and war simulation games. It communicates the setting of the sun upon reality and the dawn breaking upon a new world of inflicted computerisation where false realities and mechanisation, conflict and execution are the norm.

Ella BevanBunbury Catholic CollegeQuestionable 2012mixed media53 x 53 cm

Inspired by Patrick Winfield’s art, I have created a multi-dimensional work with individually themed tiles composed of layers of my own personal photographs and encaustic processes. On top of the tiles I have scratched questions that conjure complex answers. Central to the artwork is a portrait of a ‘multi-deity’ created by combining imagery and symbols from multiple religions. The artwork should have its audience questioning where their faith lies and what they believe constitutes religion.

Rebekah BideAll Saints’ CollegeSave us 2012multi-media installationvariable

My work is an exploration of the human spirit. My focus has been on the observation of human behaviour and the exploration of different manifestations and perspectives of dependence and growth. As the role of religion diminishes, faith in science - as both our saviour and end - proves that hope and a desire for solid ground is fundamental to life. The collection of work here is linked by my experiences and insight into human behaviour, which I attempt to convey by connecting a surreal visual experience to a physical one. For this body of work I was influenced by several contemporary artists, with my video works heavily inspired by Pipilotti Rist, Thomas Bayrle and Alexandra Gorczynski.

Dante Bott-WakelamEastern Hills Senior High SchoolYesterday’s news 2012multi-media46 x 61 cm

Yesterday’s news is composed of small pieces of paper from different newspaper advertisements and articles - past news, old stories and yesterday’s aspirations and desires. It symbolises the ending of Year 12, the closing of this chapter of my life. To achieve this, the artwork reflects my changing moods over the past year and engages the viewer through a direct gaze.

Ella ClarkIona Presentation CollegeCrush 2012oil on canvaseight parts : 30.5 x 30.5 x 7.5 cm each

Crush is a satirical representation of female teenage angst. As a series of images, it maps the errors in a relationship between two people. The unravelling of the paper reveals a message: ‘Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all’ (Lord Tennyson, 1805). This phrase sums up the typical melodrama of teenage romance. The construction of the work also reflects the way emotions were expressed in a past era. This contrasts with our contemporary world where trial and error is no longer appreciated and the authenticity of writing by hand has been outmoded. Photographing the cast of paper in various lights, I developed this series to capture moments of frustration and impassioned irritation.

Emma CraneSt Hilda’s Anglican School for GirlsConsume or be consumed 2012digital photographs, perspex and wood98 x 203 x 6 cm

Every day millions of people are trafficked, smuggled and beaten until the only option left is to obey. It’s easy to think that in the First World we need not worry because it doesn’t affect us. But in a world where we often leave our values unquestioned, it might seem a shock that, in reality, we are all slaves. I used myself as a subject to prove that everybody is a slave to something without necessarily showing it - entertainment, fashion and technology automatically come to mind. The universal problem of slavery consumes us from the inside out.

Taylor DenningWinthrop Baptist CollegeBursting at the seams 2012oil on board110 cm (diameter)

I believe that the skin is not only our first layer of protection and interaction with the physical world, but that it also acts as a barrier that we develop to conceal our true selves. My intention was to invite the viewer to examine the juxtaposition of the beauty in the reds and the discomfort evoked by the small versions of the woman clawing and ripping at the skin. Artists Edie Nadelhaft and Steven Assael heavily influenced my choice of subject matter and its purpose to capture the feminine spirit.

Tobias DixeyAquinas CollegeStimulation 2012CD disks, wire, foam, Nespresso pods, mannequins166 x 80 x 119 cm

Stimulation is a sculpture about today’s society and how we are dependent on energising stimulants to get us through the day - to the point of being ‘consumed and wired’ on caffeine and music. The Sound Suit sculptures of sculptor and performer Nick Cave influenced my ideas. His work incorporates a repetition of colourful and varied materials to create worn assemblages. Nespresso pods and compact discs were re-contextualised to create an abstracted human form.

Alex DunnChrist Church Grammar SchoolGargantuan future 2012etched and laser cut perspex with series of artline drawings120 x 100 cm (overall, approx.)

Our world is rapidly expanding into an era of gargantuan urban development with dense, over-populated cities. I chose to depict four environments as an allegory for a future industrialised world. The city represents the grand-scale metropolises of the first world; the house represents the privately owned dwellings of the wealthy; the ship represents the huge ocean liners which dominate the seas; and the airship is a means of escaping the hustle-and-bustle of the land and the only form of transport that might remain to free us from the industrial world. Contemporary techniques and materials were matched with my drawing style. The illustrated graphic is the focal point. It’s uncertain whether it is reflective or refractive, concave or convex, and prompts us to wonder whether we are watching or whether we are being watched?

Peter EdwardsGuildford Grammar SchoolMount Lawley 2012oil on canvas94 x 138 cm A sense of place is an individual’s personal reaction to a specific location. During my first semester of visual arts I was asked to explore my own sense of place. Having grown up in Mount Lawley I decided to paint a scene from a location along Beaufort Street, a location that is particularly heart-warming. The perspective of the composition draws inspiration from contemporary realist painter Richard Estes, while vibrant colours symbolise the happiness I feel at this location.

Tiffany EdwardsCecil Andrews Senior High SchoolColours of Mexico 2012clay, underglaze, glaze23 x 26 x 25 cm

I chose to make an Ocelot and sombrero because they were both Mexican. The pattern that the Ocelot has was something that I have never depicted before, and I have always wanted to construct this animal. It was a challenge that I thought would take my artistic skills to the next level.

Bess FairhurstJohn Curtin College of the ArtsThe Colour Line 2012oil on canvas and digital print on paperthree parts: i) 35 x 27 cm; ii) 41 x 51 cm; iii) 27 x 35;

My theme, ‘the colour line’, refers to interracial marriage and the discrimination that often results, particularly in past times, to the offspring.

I want to put the audience in a position to react to the ‘wrongness’ of the situation but also reflect the roots that all mammals share: the emotion felt by new mothers and their desire to connect with the life they have created.

I made an oil painting and a series of three digital prints exploring the same theme.

Nicholas ForresterHale SchoolOne punch 2012oil on canvasthree parts: i) 125 x 188 cm; ii-iii) 31 x 26 cm each

The idea for my body of work was to investigate the mindless violence so prevalent in our culture today. My aim was to produce a large scale painting that made a powerful statement about abhorrent acts. I began my investigation of my subject through reading and making notes on the episodes of alcohol fuelled violence reported in mass media. I also read the articles highlighting new laws referred to by the media as ‘one punch laws’. The major artistic influence on my work was the painting, Guernica, by Pablo Picasso.

Lilli FoskettFrederick Irwin Anglican SchoolDolly does Vogue 2012oil paint on masonite board68 x 57.5 cm

My piece was intended as a commentary on the obscenity of modern human ideals of beauty and how we flock towards them en masse, homogenising our identities into a singular commercialised product. I was inspired by the thousands of repetitive, picture-perfect covers of fashion magazines (Vogue in particular) and employed a relatively loose style of painting so as to focus more on colour and depth than fine detail.

Georgia GammagePresbyterian Ladies’ CollegeAfrica’s treasure 2012newspaper, paper pulp, acrylic paintthree parts: i) 49 x 50 x 47 cm;ii) 83 x 73 x 67 cm; iii) 73 x 55 x 59 cm

This piece explores the current issue of poaching African Rhinos for their horns for medical and ornamental purposes. I was influenced by the works of Lisa Roet and James Angus. The gold leafing reflects the worth of this valuable commodity and the way it is similarly treasured as an endangered animal. This piece is constructed to produce an awareness of the brutalities involved in the culling of these majestic animals.

Morgan GeorgeJohn XXIII CollegeMitch 2012acrylic on canvas61 x 51 cm

Even after countless disagreements and endless fights, my brother still proves to be my biggest inspiration. Born with severe Dyspraxia and Cerebral Palsy, life hasn’t been as easy as it was for other kids his age. But despite his setbacks, he never gives up.

I have painted Mitch with dramatic lines of warm light cast across his face. These are symbolic of his determination to break through the darkness that often has the ability to hold him back.

Dylan GilbeyHale SchoolOriginal sin 2012oil on canvas106 x 235 cm

My work seeks to explore and represent the idea of inner darkness - the idea that evil is very much implicit in our nature. It also asks whether we are we being redeemed or simply marched further down the path of depravity? My primary influence is the surrealist work of H.R. Giger, and the Renaissance masters.

Shannon HamillPrendiville Catholic CollegeThe sound of silence 2012photographic printsfour parts: i-ii) 28 x 35 cm; iii) 30.5 x 45 cm; iv) 30.5 x 40.5 cm

Our inability to reveal the essence of our character, and the imposing regime of rules and requirements we live with, makes us feel suffocated. Inside, my eyes plead for freedom. The nightmare of what is beneath is suggested by the horrific narrative of my work.

I was inspired by the confronting graphic works of Petrina Hicks and Bill Henson who create haunting images of humans who are almost plastic and seem to have suffered in their lives. The last section of my artwork depicts a gruesome external hand peeling off the tape which suffocates me. This is the next step toward freedom.

Ashlyn HarsSanta Maria CollegeGender morphism 2012 120 x 179 cmdigital print

Our fairytale lands are often swamped with ‘normal’ and socially accepted ideas and stereotypes. I aimed to remove the viewer from their sense of normality and transform their world into one of distorted fantasy, withdrawing them from reality and charming them into a daze. Surrealism has been my main source of inspiration, along with photographer Armin Morbach and photo-sculptor Maurizio Anzeri. The process of juxtaposing images enabled me to create this unreal scene where females morph into males. In some of my photographs I have utilised the hallucinatory visions of the Surrealists.

Tyler HillScotch CollegeMerch ar y môr (Girl by the sea) 2012oil on canvas122 x 76 cm

The relationship between the youthful lady and the dog is set in an otherworldly, surreal environment. Domestic vulnerability is situated in a Romantic, ancient landscape, highlighting the contemporary individual’s detachment from nature. The painting was inspired by Casper Friedrich’s painting Seashore with shipwreck by moonlight, and its example helped shape the ominous sky with flowing, sombre clouds that evoke a subjective, emotional response. It asks the viewer to question their relationship with their surrounding landscape. The painting was completed using the traditional technique of grisaille.

Claudia HoganApplecross Senior High SchoolComposed 2012oil on canvas102 x 76 cm

The words on the scrabble board represent various attitudes and pressures associated with finishing school. These are juxtaposed against the seemingly composed presence of the figure. The emotional neutrality of the subject is a mask; the scrabble words reveal the underlying pressures and desires typical of young people unsure about the future. The painting is a metaphor for where I’m currently positioned in my life and I have used someone I care about to portray this.

Charlie HuttonScotch CollegeVeracity 2012oil on canvas76 x 102 cm

Our ability to view ourselves objectively is based on an illusion of reality - that of reproduced images in mirrors and photography. My painting acts as a simulation of reality in daily environments. Inspired by Richard Estes and Gerhard Richter, the everyday reflection is central to this piece. Jean Baudrillard’s notion of ‘the simulacrum’ - where reality is perverted and the ability of images to retain authenticity is questioned - has also been explored. We must see through our reflections to make an informed decision as to what we deem to be truth and fallacy.

Amber Iredell-ScottSwan Christian CollegeThe light cycle 2012, 2012ceramic, acrylic, light fittings31 x 100 x 30 cm overall

This sculpture has been made to prove the point that we are not just atoms that have randomly bonded together, but that we have something unexplainable that runs through us from birth until death. Expressionism and surrealism have heavily influenced my artwork.

Madison ItalianoLa Salle CollegeThe anti-social network 2012oil on board, image transfer111 x 81 cm

In today’s society it seems that talking face-to-face is a thing of the past, as (particularly amongst the younger generations) the continuing rise of technology and social networking supersedes personal interaction. Although it is said that these new ‘innovative’ forms of communication aim to make us more ‘connected’ to others, in some ways they are doing the reverse. They change the way we relate with people and we become disconnected by technology.

Eoin KeatingPrendiville Catholic CollegeAscension I 2012ballpoint pen on paper76 x 91 cm

This self-portrait drawing completed in ballpoint pen represents my ascension into adulthood and the responsibilities that await me. The significance of the Leavers jacket as I confidently step onto the escalator symbolises the end of Year 12 and foreshadows the future that lies ahead. Within my drawings I am seen as the focal point though the escalator is a significant symbolic representation of my journey. The use of black in my drawing represents the direction I have chosen for myself as I turn my back on the last five years of my school life.

Ashleigh KendrickCecil Andrews Senior High SchoolSkulls are chef 2012clay, underglaze, glaze34 x 18 x 13 cm

I chose to do a skull with a chef hat because I was inspired by my Dad as he had a chef job and is a great cook.

Priyam KhareWilletton Senior High SchoolThe morphogenesis of Viand 2012oil on canvas124 x 92 cm

Modern society is continually changing due to technological revolution. I wanted to explore this in terms of food, specifically how things we consider are organic and natural are in fact genetically modified. Having been influenced by both the Dutch still life artists and Jackson Pollock, I have combined the two art styles to contrast the modern versus the traditional. In the context of my artwork, the apple represents the new status of food in modern society.

Ryan KirknessPrendiville Catholic CollegeTraverse 2012ballpoint pen on paper91 x 100 cm

Year 12 is a challenging time and there is always a fear that something will go wrong leading to me not being successful. We are confronted with many obstacles in life and I attempt to use these as my motivation and look toward the future with hope and ambition. I was inspired by the images and works of Michael Campau that depict dramatic perspectives that are evocative and technically precise. In the drawing I am holding onto the bar, which acts as an impediment that motivates me to overcome it. How high can I climb? Will I fall? Even with these questions, my focus is on endeavouring to always go upwards.

Grace LeeMercedes CollegeSit, stay, fetch 2012watercolour and pen77 x 56 cm

The influence humans have on the natural environment is detrimental as we exploit and manipulate animals for enjoyment or aesthetic purposes. Wild animals are domesticated until new creatures are formed, losing natural instincts, as efficient hunters come closest to hunting whilst on leads. Growing up on a farm I was exposed to the use of sheepdogs, to shearing and shooting, and I came to understand how animals work for our benefit. I drew inspiration from Caitlin Hackett; her use of watercolour and pen has moved into my own work.

Sothea LimCarmel Adventist CollegeFour seasons 2012watercolour on canvas76 x 76 cm

Four seasons is a short story about what I experience and how I feel throughout the changing seasons of the year. An individual colour palette, ranging from warm to cool colours, was used to help express each of the four seasons.

Shaun Tan’s The arrival was an influence as I really connected to the way in which he used a sequential art style to tell a story.

Nicholas LozanovskiBalcatta Senior High SchoolModern family 2012oil on canvas80 x 140 cm

We are over-exposed to new technology every day and it has both positive and negative effects on the ways we live. I believe mobile and computer communication is consuming real human-to-human contact. People have become obsessed with social networking and technology is consuming the real relationships people develop through real contact. What I have also noticed is that this is having an effect within family life, including my own. My goal is to depict this by capturing the traditional family meal time we all know as ‘dinner’. In the past, this was a time for families to bond and strengthen relationships, but now, this so-called bonding is replaced by our obsession with electronic devices.

Claudia ManciniCarmel Adventist CollegeJourneys 2012photographic print121 x 172 cm overall

As human beings we are all interconnected and, in one way or another, our paths cross. The still subjects in my series represent you, me, anyone and everyone. The moving crowds surrounding them are the people who move in and out of our lives; each individual is on their own journey and each having a different impact on our life. I was influenced by the work of Alexy Titarenko, as it was his series City of shadows that inspired me to work with long exposure photography in black and white.

Helena McKayPerth CollegeBlack swan 2012mixed media37 x 60 x 37 cm

I have created the form of a black Swan, a familiar Western Australian icon, from recycled plastic water bottles. By making the Swan completely from recycled bottles I query whether the compulsive purchasing of plastic water bottles and their subsequent careless disposal will one day replace the beautiful nature we possess.

Inspired by contemporary environmental artists, my artwork suggests that we must be mindful about thoughtless littering, particularly in our local environment, the Swan River.

Carla MilazzoPerth CollegeIn her shoes 2012watercolour on wood90 x 79 x 9 cm

On a trip to Tanzania we visited a family of nomadic Hadzabe Bushmen who seemed satisfied possessing no more than they could carry. I depicted a girl from this family with myself to show how people are alike, regardless of where they are from. Shoes scattered around my figure illuminate the contrast in material values between those living in the First and Third worlds. Corrugating the images creates an illusion through which each figure morphs with or obscures the other.

Justina MillMater Dei CollegeSchizophrenic mind 2012marker pens120 x 80 cm

Reading the book Tell me I’m there by Anne Deveson, about a boy with schizophrenia, I was able to get an idea of how people with the illness think. I used animal-headed people because some people with schizophrenia see people’s faces morph into other things. I played with the idea that the window is the mind.

Joshua MobbsSacred Heart CollegeRevolution (diptych) 2012oil on canvastwo parts: i) 122 x 91 cm; ii) 122 x 76 cm

My diptych Revolution explores the idea of freedom and breaking free from societal pressures. Revolution aims to show people breaking free and embracing their individualism. In the painting I have tried to achieve a crowded collage effect with one figure superimposed upon another in a compressed space. The mass of colour and form create a confusing image. By painting every figure in a different colour I have tried to show that we can celebrate being individuals.

Paige NgCorpus Christi CollegeNo boundaries, just dreams 2012digital print on canvas76 x 91 cm

This piece was inspired by the idea of escapism, of breaking free from the constraints of reality and travelling to a world that is entirely your own. The concept of vast outer space and the floating jelly fish represent one’s expression of individuality when spending time alone instead of being in the presence of other people where they are required to conform to the expectations of society.

Christopher NguyenApplecross Senior High SchoolCommand S 2012oil on canvas61 x 152 cm

Control S, or ‘control save’, is the handy command that saves things for you on your computer. If only it were this easy to save the environment. Is it the convenience of this technology that lulls us into a false sense of security? Beautiful images of the most rare of exotic animals anytime we want to enjoy them are accessible on command. Although Macaws are on the endangered species list, through computers, we will always be able to enjoy images of them, if not the real thing. On the finished surface of the work I have overlaid a gloss image of Ctrl S, one symbol per canvas. The images don’t need saving, the species does.

Christina PetersCorpus Christi CollegeLife at sea 2012graphite pencils98 x 78 cm

The inspiration behind my artwork is my Grandfather. I have always been fascinated by his adventures as a young man, his love of the ocean and his experiences in the Navy. He spent many years as a fisherman and through the use of Graphite pencils I capture his soft, gentle spirit, reflecting his love for the ocean.

Rakeem PickettWesley CollegeDancing our stories 2012lino printing59 x 156 cm

As a young Nyoongar man from Katanning I have celebrated my cultural links by creating a series of images of myself, a younger member of our Moorditj Mob dance group and our teacher. The work represents the passing on of cultural knowledge and the mentoring relationship that exists within our dance group. Each of the portraits includes our individual stories and memories of family times.

Emma PignatielloIona Presentation College13 people “like” this 2012oil on canvas91 x 122 cm

Inspired by Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s Luncheon of the boating party, 13 people “like” this conveys the effect of technological advancements and growing obsession with social networking sites on the human condition. Renoir’s figures’ connection with each other and overall unity of the group is replaced by the contemporary figures’ fascination with a piece of technology or object from our consumer society. Whilst we scramble for the next best thing, stare at the screen, waiting for someone to ‘like’ our photo in order to validate our view of ourselves, the world is fading away and we are moving further from real, untainted connection to each other and the environment and losing what it means to be human.

Nathan RichardsMelville Senior High SchoolA misjudgement 2012acrylic on canvas121.5 x 91 cm

My artwork depicts an urban scene based on the Wool Stores in Fremantle, depicting a notion about graffiti and its lack of acceptance in Australian society. I was influenced by the idea that graffiti is seen as an impure art form and by graffiti artists being labelled as ‘graffidiots’. As a result, I decided to put graffiti into a more traditional art form to challenge the conservative attitude of society. Gaining influence from Robert Delaunay, Australian artists Adam Cullen and Adam Hill, as well as Banksy and Shepard Fairey, I have employed a more graphic, urbanised art style with hints of Cubist influence.

Ashana Rudolphy-KingJohn Curtin College of the ArtsJasmine 2012digital print4 parts 20.5 x 20.5 cm each

The Jasmine series is a portrait of my sister that explores the woman’s body as a sculptural form. I had the idea to cover my sister in black body paint and photograph her with black scenery. Cropping interesting sections and enjoying their sculptural aspects, I carved them out of stone. Liking the texture of the stone I decided to apply this feeling to my photographs by applying a stone Photoshop layer. Jasmine is influenced by Henri Matisse’s Jeanette series of heads.

Christie SavageSt Mary’s Anglican Girls’ SchoolTrap 2012charcoal on papertwo parts: 70 x 55 cm each

My artwork presents a commentary on the concept of entrapment within a society bound by social expectations and pre-determined roles. I attempted to deconstruct the idea of social anxiety, the vulnerability of childhood and the notion of our public persona put on to ‘fit in’. I have created two charcoals which confront the viewer about the deeper emotions felt by those restricted by a rigid society that expects so much from its youth. In making the work, I was heavily influenced by Jenny Saville’s technique and her intricate focus on the suppression of women in society. The child, a traditional symbol of innocence and vulnerability, is seen harbouring feelings of social anxiety, something that is seen increasingly in modern society.

Morgan SchaafsmaIona Presentation CollegeLife in slow motion 2012oil on canvas91 x 122 cm

In my artwork I explore the tradition of the artist in the studio and the fine process and detail of painting in the still life genre. I was inspired by the neo-classical and romantic traditions and have tried to capture details of our surroundings, in particular tools, such as jars and subjects for a still life, as found, but rarely noticed, within the artist’s environment.

Julia SchmittIona Presentation CollegeSpirit 2012pen on wood60 x 90 cm

My artwork Spirit is indicative of the complexity of the human mind and how this is reflected in social perspectives and interactions. It shows a conflict between what is emotionally concealed and revealed, and how this is often at odds with others’ capacity to empathise and comprehend. This desire to be understood is overshadowed by society’s preference to conceal the unfathomable.

Julia SchmittIona Presentation CollegeIn your hands 2012pen on wood60 x 113 cm

In your hands reflects the fleeting and fragile nature of existence and the different stages of life. The integrated bird images are indicative of the fragile nature of life on earth. They are also a metaphorical reflection of the way our internal fears can become part of our identity if they are allowed to consume us.

Elinor ScottPresbyterian Ladies’ CollegeInternet friends 2012 pen on canvas91 x 152 cm

Internet friends is a visual interpretation of friendships - these clash, compliment us and go through rotations. Some are more prevalent than others, and as a mass they represent me. All the images are of my friends, taken off Facebook, and what makes this piece highly personal is that I am the only one who knows each of these people. I used waterproof black pens and black paint on white canvas to create a bold and detailed piece.

Allyson SimondsDuncraig Senior High SchoolT1 2012oil on canvastwo parts : 70 x 50 cm each

In 2011 my brother was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Prior to that I had known three others with this auto-immune disease but had not realised the impact it had on their lives. Through my artwork I hope to promote awareness about Type 1 diabetes and to convey the reality of the disease, to show that they are still normal, healthy people. I wanted to present a small fraction of what they have to deal with for the rest of their lives.

Tia StevensNorth Albany Senior High SchoolSanctuary 2012acrylic on canvas91 x 122 cm

Expressing an interest in the effects of photo manipulation, I wanted to pursue the ways in which technology alters our perception and warps reality. This is my world, my space, altered to reflect the way it is seen through my eyes. Influenced by the dark world of Käthe Kollwitz and the photography of Bill Henson, I painted an edited image of myself that I had enhanced on the computer. Technology allows for dreams of the mind to become reality.

Elise SzeremetaFoundation Christian CollegeDepth of creation 2012graphite and crayon on watercolour paper38 x 144 cm

Depth of creation aims to draw attention to the smaller elements of nature that are often overlooked. The drawings are based upon five individual photographs I have taken which each depict a magnified representation of a natural object considered relatively small in size. The pebbles, mushroom, water drops, feather and shell are all drawn in such a way as to allow their remarkable natural design and details to be perceived. The complete artwork exclusively projects the raw beauty of these otherwise commonplace creations among a world encompassing vast, complex man-made constructions.

Tayla TatonettiApplecross Senior High SchoolPlastic surgery Barbie 2012oil on canvas91.5 x 60.5 cm

Ideals of beauty are imposed by our media to create the notion of ‘perfection’. Cosmetic surgery in our society is commonplace and becoming more so. The subject matter of my painting explores this trend. In it, a young girl is instilled with the image of perfection through her doll. Both subjects have flawless skin and regular ‘beautiful’ features but, despite this, the doll is marked for surgery.

Tracey TheseiraLa Salle CollegeThe dynamic duos 2012oil on canvastwo parts : 83 x 110 cm each

The dynamic duo focuses on relationship dynamics. Each character in the first painting has a counterpart character in the second painting that illustrates a different type of relationship in society. The TV show perspective demonstrates the relationship between flatmates, best friends, friends that have nothing in common, work colleagues, romantic partners, enemies and lifelong companions. I was influenced by the famous image Dogs playing poker by Cassius Coolidge.

Alexandria TooheySt Mary’s Anglican Girls’ SchoolDysmorphia 2012oil on canvas101 x 152 cm

‘If you want to convey fact, this can only ever be done through a form of distortion. You must distort to transform what is called appearance into image’. Francis Bacon

Inspired by the 2012 Fremantle Arts Festival poster, I wanted to explore the thoughts of the internal mind externally. Using elastic bands to contort the skin and present an uncomfortable sensation, I have physically highlighted the effect of personal restrictions, such as negative thoughts, that continue to pervade an individual’s mind. To convey this message I used a large canvas and painted with glazes of oil paint, with Lucien Freud and Jenny Saville’s techniques inspiring me, adopting their use of highly coloured skin tones.

Kassidy TranSt Stephen’s School Carramar CampusHolding on 2012oil on canvas91 x 122 cm

This painting explores destructive themes of global warming, particularly deforestation and how these human activities contribute to the production of greenhouse gases. I personalised the issue by portraying ‘Mother Nature’ as a woman and indicating her simultaneous destruction, with future generations represented by the child. I aspire to reinforce the dangers of global warming by reiterating the danger it poses to the environment and consequently ourselves.

Samantha VeriniMercedes CollegeThe fear 2012watercolour56 x 77 cm

Today’s society is rapidly and selfishly destroying the world. We continue to construct weapons in order to kill one another and use the world’s resources for our wants for more, leaving nothing for future generations. Through the weeping child as a symbol of innocence, and the mature hands creeping over the face, I aim to negatively convey my fear about how present and older generations are influencing and affecting younger and future generations.

Elysia (Ella) VervestGreat Southern GrammarCode of conduct 2012acrylic and mixed media on canvasthree parts 91 x 61 cm each

Code of conduct questions our view and response to corruption within society and the decay of morality. A view of this proverb is the concept of wilfully ‘turning a blind eye’ to impropriety. This expresses that behind facades of ignorance there is a darker reality. My aim is to encourage viewers to question their point of view in response to the denial of issues such as crime and corruption.

Rachael VieraitisSt Mary’s Anglican Girls’ SchoolMum 2012oil on canvas76 x 122 cm

Many women, despite apparent equal opportunities, still feel social pressure to perform domestic duties. In addition, inequities still exist in the workforce and other areas of social life. Focused specifically on modern Western society where women have seemingly become equal to their male counterparts, I wanted to show the void left between the ideal and the reality. More specifically, through trapping human figures within the repeated cutlery motifs, I aimed to highlight the recurring social expectation throughout history of the entrapment of women in a purely domestic realm.

Inspired by surrealist artist Salvador Dali, I also wanted to explore this notion of gender inequality from a sub-conscious point of view. The repressed emotional turmoil of women in the domestic sphere - caught between personal desire and social restrictions - radiates within the images that I photographed and manipulated using Photoshop techniques.

Daniella WassermanCarmel SchoolThe slaughter blouse boutique 2012liquid latex163 x 120 x 80 cm

My final piece, titled The slaughter blouse boutique, is a conceptual installation that was created to explore the issue of Animal Rights by focusing on the exploitation of animal skin for human adornment and profit.

This work is inspired by British artist and animal activist Angela Singer, who comments on ‘the needless death of hunted and skinned animals’ and questions the notion that people are superior to other species. The garments made from Latex allude to expensive high fashion clothing made from human skins.

Joanne WattsAll Saints’ CollegeCatharsis 2012i) wood and black cotton; ii) photographic prints and black cottoni) 160 x 40 x 40 cm; ii) 126 x 31 cm (x3)

My body of work explores feelings of dislocation and stress. My sculptural work represents the entanglement one can feel when you are stressed or when the weight of the world is upon you. The black cotton thread embodies life and its fragility. The possibility of it snapping, both physically and mentally, is distinct. Pulled in all directions, I will wait to metamorphose from the cocoon within.

My photographic portraits hide my identity but represent feelings of incredible loneliness and isolation. My hands represent a shell one would retreat into and the thread represents the overwhelming, overflowing effect of emotion on the everyday. These works, although negative, are poetic and have been cathartic for me in expressing what cannot be expressed.

Jess WelshIrene McCormack Catholic CollegeHome-opoly 2012mixed mediafive parts: i) 116 x 112 x 40 cm; ii-v) 31.5 x 23 cm each

My artwork Home-opoly depicts the effect of the economic crisis on people such as the average home-owner and mortgage-payer. I have played with the idea of the board game of Monopoly to depict the clinical and flat, emotionless game that is reflective of banks’ attitudes and monopolisation of our idea of home during this time. With surrealist drawings depicting my own dazed memories of losing my home, I linked them to property titles I created based on this topic.

Published by the Art Gallery of Western Australia on the occasion of the ‘Year 12 Perspectives 2012’, 2013

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