A former Bowral High student will have his artwork exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Graduate Benjamin Silver’s ceramics work Transmigration will be displayed at the gallery in the flagship ARTEXPRESS exhibition.
The annual exhibition features a selection of outstanding student artworks developed for the artmaking component of the HSC examination in Visual Arts in NSW.
It includes a broad range of approaches and expressive forms, including ceramics, collection of works, documented forms, drawing, graphic design, painting, photomedia, printmaking, sculpture, textiles and fibre, and time-based forms.
Ben’s work, Transmigration, draws on his experiences of losing and rebuilding his identity.
“The title [Transmigration]” is a mix between a few things,” he said.
“Trans is used in today's society to label things like transgender, so I wanted that word to try and represent difference.
“The migration part represents the journey I took as a kid when I migrated from the UK as a 14-year-old.”
Ben’s work was directly influenced by his feelings and the huge journey he took.
“I wanted to capture how difficult the journey was,” he said.
“And a big concept for the work was a loss of identity.”
Transmigration was created purely from recycled materials, which Ben said further fit in with the concept.
“That also embraces the rebuilding of identity and recycling old memories and feeling,” he said.
Department of Education Secretary Mark Scott said it was an “immense honor” to have an artwork chosen for ARTEXPRESS.
“It is a tribute to the creativity, ingenuity, imagination and flair of our emerging young artists and the guidance and motivation provided by dedicated art teachers in our public schools,” he said.
The exhibition is also hoped to paint a positive picture for students currently studying visual arts.
“These artworks will be an inspiration to up-and-coming art students,” Mr Scott said.
“ARTEXPRESS is used by many schools to encourage art students as they prepare for the HSC and show them the amazing standards that our student artists achieve.”
Ben said the fact his work would be exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW was “amazing”.
“It’s crazy and it hasn’t really settled in yet,” he said.
“I wasn’t expecting to receive any recognition I was just expressing how I feel, but I feel amazed that it has paid off.”
Two other former students from the Highlands have also been recognised through ATREXPRESS.
Bowral High graduates Emma Else and Brittney Woodgate will also have their work displayed in exhibitions this year.
Brittney’s ceramic work, Message in a Bottle will be displayed at Griffith Regional Art Gallery from February 2 to March 4 and Manning Regional Art Gallery May 18 to June 24.
Emma’s ceramic work, The Great Bleached Reef, will be shown at Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and Arts Centre from February 16 to April 15 and Cowra Regional Art Gallery from September 8 to October 7.