THE OCEAN PROJECT 2024 – Students' Exhibition
14–23 November 2024
This is an exhibition of works by students from Wesley College and Kalamunda Senior High School.
Following hands on science activities with CSIRO Environment scientists and discussion with the commissioned artist Kirsten Hudson about her work as part of THE OCEAN PROJECT 2024, these students have created their own artwork in response to the project.
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THE OCEAN PROJECT 2024
Art has a capacity to reveal, communicate and evoke complex information, emotions, images and ideas. Addressing key topical science and art themes, The Ocean Project 2024 links art with science for educational and public benefit outcomes.
The ocean is a key arena for scientific research in WA and globally; with biological, environmental, social, economic and cultural concerns and impacts.
For many years CSIRO Environment (located in the IOMRC at UWA), has been researching Oceanography and Marine Biology in WA; including marine ecology in the field, mathematical modelling and research in cognitive and social sciences; which currently has a focus on the Ocean You Want- for the UN Decade of the Ocean
A collaborative partnership between Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery (LWAG), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Environment ) and the School of Design, UWA, together with staff and students of Wesley College and Kalamunda Senior High has been investigating how art might communicate and bring western science, Indigenous cultural knowledge and community science about the ocean to a wider audience - especially to students at all levels.
The Project commenced with a public discussion: Challenges in ocean research – how might art help? that was held in April 2024
Related artwork by Kirsten Hudson was commissioned and exhibited at LWAG in ODE: An Acknowledgement of Sea Country (17 July-14 August)
Following hands on science activities with CSIRO Environment scientists and discussion with the commissioned artist Kirsten Hudson about her work, students from Wesley College and Kalamunda Senior High have created their own artworks for The Ocean Project 2024 – Students’ Exhibition to be seen in the Schenberg Study Centre at Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery (14 -23 November 2024).
The project has been financially supported by the Friends of the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery who are committed to supporting art projects for students that feature art and science.
This project involving school and college students has objectives that align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 29 section (e) ‘The development of respect for the natural environment’ and also Article 31 (which includes: ‘respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.’)
The exhibition will have a FREE public opening event on 16 November 2-3pm at LWAG.
To be officially launched by Jennifer Butement, President of the Friends of The Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery
Campus and Community Partnership: Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, UWA, CSIRO Environment, School of Design, UWA with Wesley College and Kalamunda Senior High
Student artwork
Below are examples of student work from year 9 Kalamunda Senior High School exhibited as part of this project.
"The Ocean Project 2024 encouraged students to delve into the pressing issue of marine life threatened by human activity, drawing on insights shared by scientists and artists during their visit to UWA. A major focus of their exploration was crafting stories about animals in the ocean facing dangers due to environmental challenges. These stories have been turned into comics and an animated tale."
John Eden, Art and Design Teacher
Charlie Dullard and Marley Keenan, Jaws, 2024, fine line pen and pencils on paper book, 29.7 x 21cm
Aoife O’Toole, The Little Turtle, 2024, watercolour and colour pencil on paper book, 21.5 x 19.5cm
Cooper Sellin and Silas Kempt, The Oil Rig Hotel, 2024, digital book created using pencil and fine line pen, coloured digitally on sketchpad, 29.7 x 21cm
Cara Johnson and Samuel Joseph, Depth of the ocean exploration club, 2024, fine line pen and pencil on paper, 29.7 x 21cm
