Monash University’s Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture has awarded a number of significant prizes at its annual graduate show, MADA Now, celebrating unique concepts like how social systems impact a local fish and chip shop, and using form to play with perception of an object’s existence.
The Daniel Dorall prize, for the highest achieving student in Fine Art, was awarded to Erin Hallyburton for her sculptural work examining the correlations between colonisation, class and obesity, and the Caulfield Fish and Chip shop – using waste sunflower oil and a variety of materials to create a truly unique installation.
Alexis Kanatsios received the Damian Bertoli Memorial Award for his work using form to displace the viewer within the space, and Megan Kamei received the Edith Rose Memorial Award for her vibrant, multi-sensory textile experience.
Other outstanding Architecture, Urban Planning, Design, Curating and Fine Art students are featured in the exhibition, including a futuristic temple design by Master of Architecture graduate Dynuk Ethan Devamulla, a prediction into nature and genetic modification by Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate Lily Xilai Li, and a non-medicinal treatment for motion sickness by Bachelor of Design graduate Amelda Norsworthy.
MADA Now showcases the work of over 750 graduating artists, curators, designers and architects in an online exhibition at monash.edu/mada/now. A physical exhibition is also open at Caulfield campus until Dec 3. Full details on exceptional students, prize winners and recorded messages from each head of department and the Dean are viewable on the exhibition website.
Celebrating the next generation of Melbourne’s creative community is particularly important this year as the sector has faced ongoing uncertainty through extended lockdowns.
Fine Art Interim Head of Department, Spiros Panigirakis noted: “What a year and what an astounding response from our fine arts community. With too many obstacles to note, students practising across many fields, studios and occupations, made art matter.”
The Dean of the Faculty, Professor Shane Murray also highlighted the importance of the 2021 show after two years’ of uncertainty.
“I am immensely proud of our staff and of the remarkable creative community we have here at MADA” he said.
“These students have achieved amazing results through an incredibly challenging period, and our entire show is full of energy and provocation.
“It demonstrates that the creative sector is in great hands.”
