‘There is an immense sense of fulfilment that comes as a result of resonating with art’: Meet VCA graduating artist Baillie Jackson

For graduating Bachelor of Fine Arts student Baillie Jackson, identity sits at the forefront of their photography practice. We spoke to Baillie ahead of the 2024 VCA Art Grad Show.

Hi Baillie, could you introduce your work in the VCA Art Grad Show?

In my work, my anxieties take the form of unanswered questions and statements posed towards me and the people in my life. I am constantly writing and creating as an attempt to decipher the endless rumination that occupies my brain. My statements and questions address an amalgamation of my perception of a person and the false version I have created in my head.

What inspires your creative practice?

I find inspiration in the form of writing, books, films, music, family, people-watching; anything that I gain knowledge or enjoyment from. ‘Research’, which for many people might be reading in relation to a specific topic, primarily functions for me through thinking and writing about my life experiences and the people in my life. I find that this methodology helps me engage more deeply with what I am feeling, as my practice is quite intuitive and emotionally driven.

How has your practice evolved during your studies?

At the start of my photography studies I viewed my work as purely documentative — simply interested in capturing the things happening around me. I have since found a deeper interest in themes such as mental illness, obsession, queerness, and fandom as a reflection of the ever-changing perception and formulation of my identity.

What’s been a highlight of your studies?

In first year, I rephotographed photos from various family albums as an exploration into the shared passion of amateur photography in my family. I recaptured physical family photographs in the places they were originally taken, both in the home I have lived in my entire life, and in my great grandfather’s home after he had moved out. This body of work was important in helping me establish a greater confidence in what I was capable of and helped me to widen my scope of interest in what I make and think about.

Why is art important in today’s world?

I see art as an outlet for self-expression, which simultaneously allows others to feel seen and understood. I find great relief from the closure I experience when I see a project through to completion, or even when it opens up into a larger question which I feel the need to further interrogate.

Additionally, there is an immense sense of fulfilment that comes as a result of resonating with art. Even finding a point of interest within an artwork that one disagrees with or is indifferent to, promotes introspection and a constant questioning that expands into the greater world. It encourages people not to passively take everything they see at face value, or feel the need to agree with everything or everyone.

You can view Baillie’s work at the 2024 VCA Art Grad Show on display from 22–28 November at the University of Melbourne Southbank campus. Open between 11am–5pm daily. Plan your visit.

Discover the Bachelor of Fine Art (Visual Art) at the University of Melbourne.