On Wednesday, 27 February, students from the Year 11 and 12 Visual Arts classes visited the Art Gallery of NSW to view a number of important exhibitions on show. This was a vital opportunity for the students to personally view artworks from; The Masters of Modern Art from the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Artexpress, a collection of outstanding Year 12 artworks from the 2018 cohort, William Kentridge, an inspirational contemporary artist from South Africa, a collection of drawings from Brett Whiteley, one of Australia’s most accomplished artists as well as the general collection that is available to view all year round.
Visiting Artexpress enabled both year groups to gain an appreciation of the standard and quality of the works that students need to aim towards affirming information and knowledge already attained in class. It also provided valuable time to spend time with the works and experience what they were communicating with an audience. Access to read the comments from the candidates about their conceptual intentions for their work also provided a deeper level of understanding for the students to reflect upon and hopefully build into their own artmaking and knowledge of artmaking.
The students were treated to a once in a lifetime experience of seeing a multitude of famous artworks by equally famous artists in the collection of work on loan from the Hermitage Museum. Students were able to stand in front of artworks from Picasso, Cezanne, Matisse, Gaugin, Kandinsky and many more. Such an experience is invaluable to enrich the students’ understanding and appreciation of these works in light of their Critical and Historical studies of artworks for their HSC exam preparations.
In the short time the students had left they spent the time with their classroom teachers receiving instruction about specific works and techniques relevant to both their artmaking and study of artists.
The day was incredibly full with so much to learn and process in their determination to succeed in their studies of the Visual Arts. We look forward to the evolution of the students’ depth of knowledge, ideas and technical skills as the year progresses.
The students are to be affirmed for their positive conduct and attentive behaviour as they absorbed the many new experiences provided by the day.
Mrs Kerry Odonga
CAPA Coordinator
