We were honoured to have Ms Katherine Hattam (’68) inaugurate the VCE Art Show of 2023, held last Friday 6 October and across the weekend.  

Katherine’s oeuvre spans several decades and encompasses a wide range of artistic mediums, including painting, collage, and printmaking. Katherine is known for her exploration of themes related to identity, feminism, and the human condition, often incorporating personal narratives and symbolism into her artworks.  

During her opening address at the Art Show, Katherine gave special recognition to Year 12 student, Phoebe Russell’s Visual Communication Design folio, which ingeniously addressed the issue of educational disparities faced by females in developing countries using design thinking.  

Katherine also acknowledged the profound exploration of anxiety cycles in Annie Seymour’s sculptural photographs and the skillful series of portraiture by Andrea Ting, which traced her own childhood development. 

The VCE Art Show serves as a platform for students to boldly showcase their expressions, ideas, emotions, solutions, and thoughts in a very visible manner and we acknowledge their trust and ongoing creative focus. Irrespective of who was mentioned in speeches and who won Encouragement Awards, every VCE student’s work shone. It was heartening to hear the audience appreciate the entire body of work.  

This year, I could not help but notice the special guests in attendance – the grandparents, siblings, aunts, and uncles of our artists —all gathered to support their family members. It reminded me of how much this community values an Arts education.  

Wendy (Wenxuan) Lyu’s interactive painting installation

It was touching to see the ongoing support given to our VCE students, particularly as they approach their final exams and complete their schooling. Wendy (Wenxuan) Lyu’s interactive painting installation, where attendees could add their wishes, offered a poignant reflection of these young artists’ thoughts: 

 ‘I wish for happiness and peace… 

(and a good ATAR) … 

(and to get into Melb)’ 

Every year, Encouragement Awards are bestowed on our VCE students. We congratulate our 2023 recipients:  

Units 3&4 Art Creative Practice: Pia Wilson 

Units 1&2 Art Creative Practice: Yasmim Martin 

Units 3&4 Visual Communication Design: Charlotte Rodgers 

Units 1&2 Visual Communication Design: Charlotte Upton 

Units 3&4 Media: Mia Scillio 

Units 1&2 Media: Violet Johnston 

Additionally, we would like to announce the recipients of two prestigious awards, which will be presented at our upcoming Speech Night:  

The Dr Max Darby Award: Charlotte Rowe 

The Anna Tegner Memorial Art Award: Jialing (Fiona) Zhu  

Charlie Tegner with Jialing (Fiona) Zhu, recipient of the Anna Tegner Memorial Art Award

Awarded to a Year 11 Art student whose work is imaginative or boundary breaking. The recipient displays a willingness to take artistic risks and to experiment freely with new ideas, techniques, and approaches to artmaking. Named in recognition of past student Anna Tegner (’00). 

These Awards hold a special place in our hearts, and we look forward to celebrating them at Speech Night on Wednesday 20 November. 

Well done artists, media producers, and designers!  

Please enjoy a gallery of our VCE Art Show Exhibition below.