ARTEXPRESS ARTEXPRESS is an annual exhibition of exemplary artworks created by New South Wales Visual Arts students for the Higher School Certificate examination. Josephine Harris, Year 12, was nominated from over 9,000 students from NSW for ARTEXPRESS 2016. Josephine’s artwork entitled ‘Upon the Shelf’ excelled in the chosen media of pen drawing and also in its conceptual practice. Josephine commented on the concept behind her work: “Through my biro pen drawings I intend to demonstrate the beauty of age, in which one’s face is in fact a collection of the experiences which have formed each individual’s identity.
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PRINCIPAL’S REPORT 2016
These experiences are a part of the traditions associated with the elderly members of society. Therefore, my artwork acts to exemplify why the elderly should not be placed ‘upon the shelf’ but rather valued for their knowledge and personification of the past. The bottles with the drawings of elderly people placed inside of them metaphorically represents this concern. With an increasingly ageing world population, the regard of this sector of the population must be taken more seriously, and we must look to new methods to ensure the resources to give them the potential to still participate in society.”
“Through my biro pen drawings I intend to demonstrate the beauty of age, in which one’s face is in fact a collection of the experiences, which have formed each individual’s identity.” Below: Josephine Harris and her artwork ‘Upon the Shelf’