From one of Australia’s best emerging contemporary artists, to an artwork installed across international borders, the works of more than 700 students will be on show at the Monash Art Design and Architecture exhibition, MADA Now.
MADA Now showcases the work of graduating artists, curators, designers and architecture students and will launch with a virtual opening from November 18.
This year’s exhibition includes works from Fine Arts Honours graduate, Beth Maslen, earmarked as one of Australia’s best emerging contemporary artists, whose work plays with the “frequencies of seeing” and emphasises the importance of presence in place.
The exhibition also showcases how students have worked with incredible resilience and collaboration, with one Singapore-based student relying on peers to install her work across locked-down borders via live chat.
MADA Now offers a window into the creative community at Monash University and celebrates the next generation of Melbourne’s artists, designers and architects.
Outstanding student achievement will be recognised with a series of industry and academic awards at the virtual opening night. However, with online learning adaptation required for the second year running, the Dean of MADA, Professor Shane Murray, says that every student and staff member deserves recognition.
“I’d like to congratulate each and every student for their outstanding resilience, creativity and problem-solving skills in another difficult year. I am amazed at and proud of the spirit and passion evident in this year’s work – created under such challenging, often isolated conditions and, in some cases, across international borders.”
“I am immensely proud of our staff and of the remarkable creative community we have here at MADA and I look forward to following the work of our 2021 graduates as they embark on their careers as creative practitioners.”
MADA Now 2021 will be launched virtually, at 6pm on 18 November at monash.edu/mada/now, with messages from each Head of Department and the Dean.
On campus viewings of Fine Art, Art History & Curating and Architecture student work are available by appointment from 22 November – 3 December, within strict COVID safe guidelines. Bookings are essential via the MADA website – https://www.monash.edu/mada The complete MADA Now exhibition will be available online from 18 November 2021.
In what has been an incredibly tough year for the creative industries, MADA Now is a celebration of the resilience and innovation of our creative community through the pandemic.
Interviews are available with exhibiting students and the following staff: Professor Mel Dodd, Head of Architecture Associate Professor Gene Bawden, Head of Design Dr Spiros Panigirakis, Interim Head of Fine Art Professor Shane Murray, Dean of Monash Art Design and Architecture
