An incredible family heritage and epic treks across Australia on camels are some of the powerful themes explored in the School of Art and Design graduation exhibition now on display at The Australian National University (ANU).
This year's exhibition, which celebrates the class of 2022, also explores themes of healing, environment and social change, connection and identity.
Among the works of the 57 graduating students is an interactive game allowing players to write their own rules, a canvas tent inspired by Australia's cameleers, sculptures made in memory of queer lives lost to hate crimes and suicide and bicycle wheels woven with denim.
The compelling works cover a range of mediums, including glass, ceramics, textiles, sculpture, photomedia, printmedia, drawing and painting. There's also AI, video and sound installations on show.
Head of School, Associate Professor Beck Davis, said the exhibition marks "a tremendous achievement", despite the challenges of the past few years.
"Our student body is diverse and talented, and the work shared illustrates a dynamic and creative range," Associate Professor Davis said.
"Our graduates join the celebrated ranks of ANU alumni with their names joining an exceptional list of professional artists, art historians, curators and designers."
Gabriela Renee is among the graduating students exhibiting their works. Her artwork, Balik Kampung, Going Home... is an immersive exploration of her cultural heritage.
She was inspired to investigate her cultural identity and family history through her art after a university field trip to Tumut on Wiradjuri, Wolgalu and Ngunnawal country.
"After listening to all the First Nations people speak about their connection to land and place and how closely this was tied to their identity and community, I felt quite disheartened realising I didn't have that sense of belonging," Ms Renee said.
"I felt disconnected from my culture and my ethnicity and what it means even to be of mixed race."
This experience inspired a deep dive of her family history, speaking to relatives, learning about old stories and looking through old photographs.
"Ethnically, I am of Sinhalese, Malayali, English, Shetlander, German and Irish decent," Ms Renee said.
"As an Australian Malaysian, the journey of uncovering this hybridity has been a deeply personal investigation of images, objects and materials."
Through a colourful installation of draped fabric, Ms Renee's family history is layered within textiles "that evoke the clothing made and worn by her ancestors around the world." This includes embroidered saris, handmade lace and tartan.
Gathered from family archives, Ms Renee has layered photos of her ancestors into the work.
"Embedding and layering these images within textiles that evoke the clothing made and worn by my ancestors around the world, I navigate a complex set of histories and challenge the documentary purpose of photography," she said.
The work embraces the viewer and at the same time asks them "to question what it means to be of mixed race and embrace the complex identities that are formed from different cultures and ethnicities."
