The Majlis Travelling Fellowship: Supporting the next generation of artists
The future of art is on display in the Majlis Travelling Fellowship Exhibition at the Fiona and Sidney Myer Gallery from 4-20 August.
Including a diverse range of artistic expressions spanning painting, sculpture, performance, printmaking, and photography, the 2023 Majlis Travelling Fellowship Exhibition showcases exceptional works by 19 graduating VCA Art students.
As part of the event, a prestigious prize of $15,000 is awarded to a single exhibiting artist, allowing them to undertake professional development opportunities abroad at the completion of their degree.
Dr. David Sequeira, Director of the Fiona and Sidney Myer Gallery, says this year's exhibition is an incredible display of new art by emerging voices.
"The Majlis Travelling Fellowship is one of the most anticipated events of the academic year at the VCA," says David. "The exhibition reveals pressing concerns that are both global and deeply personal to the artists. Identity, sex, homelessness, place, sustainability, perception, mythology, and healing are some of the themes explored by these artists who are in one of the most formative periods of their lives."
Among the exhibition highlights is Lewis Egan's durational performance, I'M WALKING TO SIRCUIT.
The performance sees Lewis walk on a treadmill in the gallery for two hours daily, covering the exact distance (13.4km) between their Williamstown home and iconic Fitzroy queer nightclub, Sircuit.
Audiences can further immerse themselves in the experience through synchronised headphones while listening to albums from culturally significant pop icons.
This ambitious work represents Lewis' first venture into performance.
"I've never created anything like this," says Lewis. "My background is in photography and print media, so this opportunity has unlocked a huge sense of possibility for me – emotionally and artistically."
Caitlinn Foord's series of six oil paintings delve into explorations of light phenomena.
"I've recently been preoccupied with how light behaves, how it can be manipulated through materials, and its influence on our psychology and actions," says Caitlinn.
While compositionally simple, each painting took three weeks to complete.
"The slow and methodical nature of my process is an important part of my practice. I hope viewers appreciate the measured and deliberate application of paint while viewing my work."
Lucca De Clario's A New Shell is a striking sculptural installation exploring personal narrative.
The work features a domestic scene with assorted objects and ephemera displayed on a large carpet. The sculpture is kinetically activated when the carpet's corners are drawn upward via a ceiling winch that transforms the tableau into a suspended bundle.
Lucca describes the work as a resolution to a defining period in their life where several "critical circumstances collided".
Delphine Byrne's work, Find Juanita: Sigil Score, weaves sculptural and performance-based elements together and centres on the disappearance of missing person, Juanita Nielsen, in 1975.
The sculptural component comprises a large piece of Perspex etched with a graphic score and sigil – a symbol of magical incantations.
In her performance, Delphine activates the score by channelling the energy of Juanita's disappearance using reiki, an amplified violin, and a theremin.
The piece serves as an extension of her previous work and an ongoing exploration into the mystery surrounding Juanita's disappearance.
More broadly, says Delphine, "the work is concerned with violence against women and the way gendered violence is made invisible."
Wei Ziyi's masterfully wrought sculpture, To Louise Bourgeois, has earned her this year's $15,000 Majlis Travelling Fellowship.
Wei's work, comprising metal, glass, UV gel, plastic, ready-made components, and chrome powder, is an ode to the famed artist Louise Bourgeois, and her sculpture, Maman.
"I work with a younger generation of females as a nail technician,” says Wei. "The materials I use are pretty Gen Z and reflect our generation of fashion.”
"I've incorporated these contemporary ideas into a spider shape, similar to Louise Bourgeois with her giant spider – creating a timeless and ageless conversation with a feminist female predecessor."
Wei is excited about what this award entails: "I can't wait to put the Fellowship funds into my projects – I have so many plans and things I want to do. It's an overwhelming feeling."
The 19 extraordinary finalists in the 2023 Majlis Travelling Fellowship exhibition include: Delphine Byrne, Lucca de Clario, Lewis Egan, Luca Feldman, Caitlinn Foord, Grace Fuentealba, Alexandra Gowing, Darcy Guttridge, Indi Jennings, Demi Kromidellis, Alula, McGlashan-Rabik, Georgia Naughton, Casey Nicholls-Bull, Molly Shears, Fiona Shewan, Jessie Spencer Smith, Justine Walsh, Olivia Wood, and Wei Ziyi.
The Majlis Travelling Fellowship Exhibition is open to the public Tuesday to Saturday between 12-5pm, from 4-20 August 2023, and entry is free. The Fiona and Sidney Myer Gallery is located at 40 Dodds Street, Southbank VIC 3006.