Stanwell Park teenager Luke Serio only took up art seriously two years ago when he changed schools.
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So the Bulli High School graduate was surprised but ecstatic when his artwork was selected for the flagship ARTEXPRESS exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Transmigration, the ceramic art piece by Bowral High’s Benjamin Silver, also features in the exhibition, which officially opens on Wednesday, January 31.
Department of Education secretary Mark Scott said ARTEXPRESS showcased some of the best artworks presented for assessment by HSC Visual Arts students.
“To have an artwork chosen for ARTEXPRESS is an immense honour,” Mr Scott said.
Luke Serio said his sculpture Standing the Test, was a homage to longevity and resilience.
“It represents the value of people and places that have been around for a long time, and makes a statement against the current social desire of always wanting the latest consumer item,” the 18-year-old said.
“I used ceramic forms for their expressive potential, and chose recycled wood for its textural qualities. The ceramics and the aged wood tell a story of endurance and perseverance.”
Luke also commended the “great professional dedication of the teachers, especially those in the art department at Bulli High”.
A number of other Illawarra, South Coast and Southern Highlands public school graduates’ works feature in ARTEXPRESS exhibitions, which will also be staged throughout the year in various NSW locations.
They include:
- Bowral High – Emma Else, The Great Bleached Reef (ceramics) to be shown at Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and Arts Centre and Cowra Regional Art Gallery.
- Bowral High – Brittney Woodgate, Message in a Bottle (ceramics) Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Manning Regional Art Gallery.
- Bulli High - Brooke Kjestrup, On the Nature of Things (drawing): Hazelhurst.
- Ulladulla High – Maya Lovelock-Dodos, The Ignorant Race (drawing): The Armory Sydney Olympic Park, Orange Regional Gallery.
- Wollongong High School of Performing Arts – Selina Brophy-Jeffress, Episode 7 (Graphic Design): Hazelhurst, Cowra.
ARTEXPRESS is a joint partnership of the NSW Education Standards Authority and the NSW Department of Education.