13 June 2013
Students across Adelaide have used art to create a visual dialogue describing multiculturalism, anti-racism and human rights for the annual SA Refugee Week Poster Exhibition on now at the University of South Australia.
The exhibition, which is supported by the Migrant Resource Centre of SA, the State Minister for Education, and UniSA’s Hawke Centre and School of Art, Architecture and Design, will also host a launch event on June 17 to coincide with Refugee Week (June 16-22).
The artwork on display is the result of a poster competition for primary, secondary and tertiary students. Minister for Education and Child Development, the Hon Jennifer Rankine will attend the launch to announce the winners of the competition.
Associate Professor Andrew Hill, Associate Head of School of Art, Architecture and Design at UniSA and one of the judges of the competition, says the work on display shows immense creativity and awareness of the subject.
“It is an exhibition in which we are able to see students directly identifying with refugees’ plight and candidly expressing their emotional responses in ways which cut through all the political arguments about unauthorised arrivals, making us acutely aware that we need to be compassionate and care for those in vulnerable positions,” Assoc Prof Hill says.
“Using graphite and coloured pencil, paint and collage, as well as quite sophisticated computer programs and documentary imagery, the students’ present an amazing array of approaches which essentially plead the case that we are all one people, and that our diversity is both our strength and our future.”
Hawke Centre Executive Director Elizabeth Ho says the competition celebrates the United Nations International Refugee Convention by communicating how refugees are welcomed, become part of or contribute to the Australian family.
“The students have excelled in their capacity to convey empathy and understanding for those seeking asylum and for those who receive it and adjust to their new land,” Ho says.
“They project a strong awareness of the role of international conflict in creating the need for asylum, and an appreciation of the courage it takes to find another home. They are truly inspiring and the Hawke Centre is proud to be assisting this annual project.”
The launch event will take place on June 17 at 2:45pm while the exhibition will run until June 28 at the Kerry Packer Civic Gallery, UniSA City West campus, Hawke Building Level 3, North Terrace, Adelaide.
For more information, visit www.hawkecentre.unisa.edu.au.
Media Contact
Rosanna Galvin office (08) 8302 0578 mobile 0434 603 457 email rosanna.galvin@unisa.edu.au
