RMIT Discipline of Photography
image: Raghav Kumar, ‘Ankita Midha’, from the series ‘The Parting Memory’, 2023, photograph.
2023 Photography Awards
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Adrian J. Song
Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence, Bachelor of Arts (Photography)(Honours) sponsored by Kayell Australia. UNSETTLED OPACITIES: REASSEMBLING THE UNKNOWN. This year my research focused on approaching my practice as a site of resistance to maintain my right to opacity. The works more …
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Courtney Stockdale
Kallman Feitel Endowment Award for portfolio which demonstrates the greatest potential (client-centred). ATMOS is the first instalment of an ongoing series, comprised of both architectural and interior photography. Positioned as a rebuttal to persistent criticisms of minimalist design, which is often more …
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Donna Venables
Lightscapes Award for outstanding Folio. RETRO-FUTURISTIC ECHOES (Areas A-J) AI-infused artistry of the pulp Sci-Fi era My final art project for the Honours program Retrospective Echoes (Areas A-J) marries the aesthetics of retro sci-fi pulp movies from the 1950s through to more …
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Jeong Hu Kim
Kallman Feitel Endowment Award for a portfolio which demonstrates the greatest potential (Art-centred practice) THE BEAUTIFUL MISUNDERSTANDING As we go through life, we are influenced by everything around us. It’s almost impossible for aperson to live in complete isolation from more …
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Jonah Meaden
There’s wolves in the house. In his photobook, ‘There’s wolves in the house’, Jonah navigates his journey with trauma as a means of finding peace with these events and their effects. Through a fragmented and non-linear narrative, mirroring the fluid more …
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Lulu Bolt
Kallman Feitel Endowment Award for portfolio which demonstrates the greatest potential (World-centred). THOMAS explores the concepts of masculinity and identity, as experienced through my friendship with three individuals named Thomas. Through the medium of photography, I explore the dynamics of identity more …
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Mikayla De Pasquale
NAVA Ignition Award for highest performing in Profession Practice. CELESTIAL TRACE is a photographic exploration that documents solar and lunar phenomena. The research project uses handmade pinhole and mirrorless cameras to capture various durations that span across hours, days, weeks and more …
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Mingyuan Zhang
Robyn Beeche Award. BON APPETITE – An expression of the personal experience of suffering resulting from eating disorder behaviours. An eating disorder is a combination of physical problems and mental issues. The reason behind it is beyond complex. Instead of more …
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Nick Orloff
Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence, Bachelor of Arts (Photography) Highly Commended. In his recent keynote presentation at the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Platon said “as a portrait photographer, my job is to tell the truth and to capture someone’s spirit more …
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Phương Nguyên Lê
Baillot & Balfour Endowment Award for most outstanding final year student in photography. Perimeter Books Award (portfolio review): most potential for publication. Blindside Award. SUNSHINE On January 15th 2022, I moved to Sunshine, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne, where I rented out a bedroom more …
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Raghav Kumar
Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence, Master of Photography sponsored by Kayell Australia. NAVA Ignition Award for highest performing in Profession Practice. Seventh Gallery Award. ALL THAT REMAINED ARE MEMORIES: a photographic exploration of Home, Family and Material memory to reclaim more …
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Rani Bartholomeusz
Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence, Bachelor of Arts (Photography) Sponsored by Sun Studios. WATER AND LIGHT My body of work explores light and water’s relationship with the sublime. Looking at various bodies of water, I capture how different lighting can manipulate more …
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Ryley Clarke
Lightscapes Award for outstanding Folio. DARK SIGNS OF A RED SUMMERS SHADOW is a photographic narrative that draws on the conventions of documentary practice, to reflect upon the interrelated experiences of young adults living through a time of heightened uncertainty. In more …
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Tammy Wu
B2 Scan Photography Award: analogue merit. SURREAL OF MIRROR is a combined photography project that takes on a personal explorational journey to resolve my sense of loneliness and depression by revealing inner insecurities and self-consciousness. It discusses existentialism through superimposition more …
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Tayla Edwards
The Brownbill Effect Award: pushing the boundaries of commercial photography. This body of work utilises the photographic medium to investigate and capture the local beverage maker industry in the Mornington Peninsula region. Inspiration is derived from the annually published Eat. Drink. magazine. more …
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Zhuoyu Gan
Centre for Contemporary Photography Award for outstanding folio. Reviewed in MASS MEMO | Photography, RMIT by Leah Shyra (memoreview.net) “[…] Zhuoyu (Bǫbbi) Gan brings me out onto the balcony of an apartment, her photographic installation Boundaries Theatre (2023) exploring a desire to more …
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Zina Sofer
Dr Ray Cook ‘hang onto your dreams’ Award: folio that demonstrates potential for further exploration. OUT OF THE SHADOWS Forgotten History of the War Widows’ Guild of Australia It makes me sad to see how my neighbourhood is changing. The housing estate in more …
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Zoe Willis
Kindred Cameras Award. In this portfolio, I present a series of photographs, each embodying a distinct theme and narrative. Inspired by cinematic aesthetics and fashion nuances, these images are more than visual representations – they aim to communicate truths, evoke more …
2023 Photography Graduates
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Adrian J. Song
Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence, Bachelor of Arts (Photography)(Honours) sponsored by Kayell Australia. UNSETTLED OPACITIES: REASSEMBLING THE UNKNOWN. This year my research focused on approaching my practice as a site of resistance to maintain my right to opacity. The works
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Alla Kuyunzhi
INTO THE SHADOW Within the recesses of our minds lies a profound, enigmatic realm – the unconscious. A vast, unknown territory that beckons us with its mysteries and shrouded truths. It is a place both alluring and intimidating, where the
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Ashla Corlis-Richards
BENEATH THE SURFACE explores the chaotic mess that is being in your 20s, a period of life that is full of confusion, anxiety love and loss. Stress is a human natural response promoting us to address challenges and threats in
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Benjamin Brophy
BEETLES I used to be a musician. I studied music, performed, and rehearsed almost every day, I played in school bands and ensembles all through my teenage years and it was this band that we had put together the four
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Courtney Stockdale
Kallman Feitel Endowment Award for portfolio which demonstrates the greatest potential (client-centred). ATMOS is the first instalment of an ongoing series, comprised of both architectural and interior photography. Positioned as a rebuttal to persistent criticisms of minimalist design, which is often
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Dawn Aquino
MANUFACTURING GENDER is a fashion photography series that aims to explore the gender disparities prevalent in daily advertising. The photo series features androgynous styling with a mix of moody and bright lighting to challenge these stereotypes. The project heavily relies
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Donna Venables
Lightscapes Award for outstanding Folio. RETRO-FUTURISTIC ECHOES (Areas A-J) AI-infused artistry of the pulp Sci-Fi era My final art project for the Honours program Retrospective Echoes (Areas A-J) marries the aesthetics of retro sci-fi pulp movies from the 1950s through to
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Emma Kihara
In my latest project, I explore the realm of food photography, unfolding a narrative through three distinctive methodologies, each captured to root my artistic vision and interpretation of the culinary world. This project begins in the studio in a
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Ethan Cunningham
BEYOND THE GREEN: CELEBRATING DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY IN GOLF This project takes you on a visual and narrative journey through the heart of public golf at Mt Derrimut Golf Club. This captivating series of portraits and action shots goes beyond the
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Ethan Kristy
SUPERXERO A series experimenting with generative AI (Text-to-Image) software to re-image superheroes for Trans and Gender-Diverse kids. As a child I never had any superheroes to look up to, who represented me as transgender kid. Made from new digital technologies
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Haoqing Xu
TREES is a project of inquiry about self-growth. At a very young age, I was a person who liked to scribble everywhere and used to express my expectations and fantasies about everything in this way. Adults were often eager to discuss
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Hassan Ayache
WHO ARE YOU? This series, like a heartfelt project, uses portraiture to dive deep into the lives and stories of an individual. More than a visual presentation, it provides those depicted within its frames a distinctive platform to articulate their
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Henghui Sun
MENTAL IMAGE is a series of abstract expressions that I reproduce and recall in my mind, based on experiences after being exposed to objective things in life. These mental images construct my perceptual understanding of the world, especially the connections
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Hewen Qian & Zipeng Zheng
THE ROOM – SHORT FILM The Room is a poignant short film that sheds light on the intricacies of social anxiety, a specific subtype of anxiety disorder characterised by irrational and overwhelming fears of external stimuli. Those afflicted are acutely
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Hootan Haghshenas
THE MAN WHO WAS NOT THERE: A photographic interpretation of recent traumatic events in Iran. On 16 September 2022, a 22-year-old Iranian woman was arrested by religious morality police while in the custody of the police and died under mysterious
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India Calder-Lowndes
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE Stranded in the realm of the subconscious, reality twists and turns like a labyrinth, creating an unsettling journey, which leads the mind into new depths of the unknown. Down the Rabbit Hole ventures into a world full of
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Jacqueline Marsolino
STOP STARING Stop staring I don’t want to be stared at Stop laughing are you laughing at me Stop staring I don’t want to be seen Stop Stop Stop Quick breathing, heart beating fast, millions of thoughts repeated over
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Jeong Hu Kim
Kallman Feitel Endowment Award for a portfolio which demonstrates the greatest potential (Art-centred practice) THE BEAUTIFUL MISUNDERSTANDING As we go through life, we are influenced by everything around us. It’s almost impossible for aperson to live in complete isolation from
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Jessica (Jay) Tyrrell
I’M TRYING TO LISTEN TO THE EARTH BUT THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE SPEAKING AT ONCE, is about my experiences with my mental health. I’ve been struggling for a few years now, and this project is a reflection of that
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JIA YI ZHANG (JAX)
My work is centered on delivering a straightforward yet impactful message: our world is grappling with escalating pollution levels, which pose significant threats to our livelihoods, ecosystems, and our collective future. Each piece of my art encapsulates a narrative that
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Jingling Wu
JOURNEY TO ROOTS is a family documentary photographic project that investigates cultural contexts and identities through spaces, objects and people, primarily through personal experiences. Meanwhile, it expresses the intense relationship between photography and memory. Family history is a historical record
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Jonah Meaden
There’s wolves in the house. In his photobook, ‘There’s wolves in the house’, Jonah navigates his journey with trauma as a means of finding peace with these events and their effects. Through a fragmented and non-linear narrative, mirroring the fluid
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Jordan Townrow
In this body of client-based work, I am focusing on the two areas of stylised sport action shots and architecture and interiors. Navigating through the worlds of action-packed sports photography and the detailed imagery of buildings and interiors, a simple
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Kayla Steinbruckner
ANON. I have no idea who I am, or who I am supposed to be. Experiences, memories, relationships, people who surround us, all contribute to how we see ourselves. But, I fixate and obsess, arguably an unhealthy amount, about who
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Kun Chen (Marcus)
23:57 FRAGMENTS IN LIFE THAT LINGER IN MEMORY. This project captures the intimate human connections in life within the LGBTQ+ community. It explores various intricate forms of intimacy. These images portray moments of tenderness, vulnerability and passion. It is a
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Lexie Leonard
ON LIFE, WORK AND MEANING This series explores the idea of creating a sense of self and purpose outside of employment and how we think about and achieve meaning in our lives. Simply put, we are more than what we
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Lin Sun—-Chindougu
The core idea of this project is to transform everyday objects and scenes into quirky, hilarious scenarios. In life, the everyday things we buy always have their uses and purposes, such as chopsticks for eating, pens for writing, umbrellas for
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Lulu Bolt
Kallman Feitel Endowment Award for portfolio which demonstrates the greatest potential (World-centred). THOMAS explores the concepts of masculinity and identity, as experienced through my friendship with three individuals named Thomas. Through the medium of photography, I explore the dynamics of identity
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Martina Cavanna
¿QUE NACE DE UNA CALABAZA PODRIGA? (What grows from a rotten pumpkin?) explores the defeat of human ignorance and position us under the unbeatable force of nature: We are all victims of decay by the erosion of the passage of time,
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Meagan Aherne
GIRL PARTY – In my photographic series, Girl Party I embark on a captivating exploration of the vibrant and visually stunning world of the 1960s. This body of work is characterised by vintage-styled wigs, bold makeup, authentic 60s fashion, and
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Michelle Ferreira
ECO-EMPATHY: a photographic exploration of solastalgia. This research project reflects upon the interconnectedness of humans and nature — the impact of our actions and the emotional resonance. Climate anxiety is especially prevalent among young people, my daughter included. Eco-empathy is
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Mikayla De Pasquale
NAVA Ignition Award for highest performing in Profession Practice. CELESTIAL TRACE is a photographic exploration that documents solar and lunar phenomena. The research project uses handmade pinhole and mirrorless cameras to capture various durations that span across hours, days, weeks and
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Mingyuan Zhang
Robyn Beeche Award. BON APPETITE – An expression of the personal experience of suffering resulting from eating disorder behaviours. An eating disorder is a combination of physical problems and mental issues. The reason behind it is beyond complex. Instead of
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Miranda Thwaites
UNIFORMITY is a survey of suburban architecture in Melbourne, encompassing a range of architectural styles from the past century. The aim of the project is to compare the ways in which houses are being built in and around Melbourne and
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Neve Tullberg
CALL AND RESPONSE. Within my body of work I capture the dynamic synergy that emerges at the intersection of musicians and fashion. I aim to depict the expressive power of both music and fashion, illustrating how they shape and define our
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Nick Orloff
Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence, Bachelor of Arts (Photography) Highly Commended. In his recent keynote presentation at the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Platon said “as a portrait photographer, my job is to tell the truth and to capture someone’s spirit
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Nuri Ayyildiz
EVERY SOUL SHALL TASTE DEATH, THEN TO US WILL YOU BE RETURNED Loss, anxiety, and the desire for peace in the face of these emotions are common responses when contemplating one’s own mortality. Our philosophical or theological ideas, as well
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Penny Sharp
OCEANS EMBRACE This body of work is an artistic exploration of my profound connection between water and the enigmatic world of dreams, evoking atmospheres that capture the intense feelings and deep connection associated with both of these elements.
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Phương Nguyên Lê
Baillot & Balfour Endowment Award for most outstanding final year student in photography. Perimeter Books Award (portfolio review): most potential for publication. Blindside Award. SUNSHINE On January 15th 2022, I moved to Sunshine, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne, where I rented out a bedroom
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Raghav Kumar
Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence, Master of Photography sponsored by Kayell Australia. NAVA Ignition Award for highest performing in Profession Practice. Seventh Gallery Award. ALL THAT REMAINED ARE MEMORIES: a photographic exploration of Home, Family and Material memory to reclaim
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Rani Bartholomeusz
Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence, Bachelor of Arts (Photography) Sponsored by Sun Studios. WATER AND LIGHT My body of work explores light and water’s relationship with the sublime. Looking at various bodies of water, I capture how different lighting can manipulate
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Ryley Clarke
Lightscapes Award for outstanding Folio. DARK SIGNS OF A RED SUMMERS SHADOW is a photographic narrative that draws on the conventions of documentary practice, to reflect upon the interrelated experiences of young adults living through a time of heightened uncertainty. In
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Sahan Perera
MELBOURNE THREADS: Exploring Cultural Fusion Through Expandable Street Fashion Photography. My journey in street fashion photography is more than just capturing style and clothing. It’s an exploration of cultural diversity, identity, and the intricate fusion of traditions and modernity in
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Sionainne Costello
OPTIMISTIC NIHILISM is a project that explores profound philosophical themes through various artistic elements. At its core, this project delves into the interconnectedness of all things, embracing the concept of transmateriality, and delving into questions about human consciousness. My project
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Sofia Ruggiero
BEYOND THE COURT: THE HUMAN SIDE OF BASKETBALL Vulnerability is a fundamental aspect of the human experience, it can be challenging to acknowledge. The fear of burden, rejection, and weakness fuels this challenge. Vulnerability for me is coping with my
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Stefan Di Petta
THE HEART OF LOCAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP. This initiative focuses on leveraging photography as a strategic tool to enhance the visibility and branding of small businesses. In today’s digital landscape, where compelling visual content is paramount, many smaller enterprises face challenges in
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Stephen Kontiveis
LENSES is based around connection with self, people, and my surroundings, all in which are parallel and intertwined with one another. One entity channeled through different avenues but ultimately woven by the same fabric. Despite there being an infinite number
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Tammy Wu
B2 Scan Photography Award: analogue merit. SURREAL OF MIRROR is a combined photography project that takes on a personal explorational journey to resolve my sense of loneliness and depression by revealing inner insecurities and self-consciousness. It discusses existentialism through superimposition
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Tanisha Wookey
Reviewed in MASS MEMO | Photography, RMIT by Leah Shyra (memoreview.net) “I carry this feeling close when wandering through Tanisha Wookey’s Knowing You (2023), a series of photographic prints positioned around a multi-wall installation space. At the entry point stands a closet,
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Tayla Edwards
The Brownbill Effect Award: pushing the boundaries of commercial photography. This body of work utilises the photographic medium to investigate and capture the local beverage maker industry in the Mornington Peninsula region. Inspiration is derived from the annually published Eat. Drink. magazine.
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U Hei Chan (Leo)
THESE SHADOWS THEY WALK BESIDE ME is an existential journey through mental illness and my attempts at grasping the meaning of existence. This series traverses natural environments, multiple life forms, and shadows – all facets of my internal landscape. The
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Xin Yi Teoh
re-LIGHT, 2023 The exploration of light, colour, and the way photography breaks down or blends is fascinating. The images used in this series are from Malaysia and Melbourne, two places I have lived
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Xuan Xiong (Palmer)
GEMINI: A Visual Journey of Self-Discovery. I embark on a deeply personal exploration of self, diving into the enigmatic world of personality and identity. Just as the zodiac sign symbolises dualism, this project seeks to capture the multifaceted aspects of who
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Yajie Chen
IF MOTHER. It’s a challenge of shifting identities, investigating the bonds of kinship through objects and people, primarily through personal emotional insights. As the year 2023 approaches, at the age of 21, I am coming to understand my mother. I try
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Yanlin Cai
DIGITAL DISTRESS. Social media takes up most of my leisure time and I have come to realise that it affects my life. It causes me a lot of anxiety and tension. As a woman, these feelings come from a fear
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Yi ’11’ Zhou
Reviewed in MASS MEMO | Photography, RMIT by Leah Shyra (memoreview.net) “My eyes first trawl over Yi ‘11’ Zhou’s photographic installation, A Wobbly Fence Standing Tall (2023), where the humble family photograph takes precedence. Unlike the fine art photograph, these vernacular images
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Yueran Li (Dorly)
MECHANIC: THE DISAPPEARANCE OR NEWBORN? invites audiences to contemplate the boundaries, gaps, and connections between past, present, and emerging art forms. The project delves into the realm of digital photography and AI photography, exploring the dynamic interplay between human craftsmanship and
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Zhuoyu Gan
Centre for Contemporary Photography Award for outstanding folio. Reviewed in MASS MEMO | Photography, RMIT by Leah Shyra (memoreview.net) “[…] Zhuoyu (Bǫbbi) Gan brings me out onto the balcony of an apartment, her photographic installation Boundaries Theatre (2023) exploring a desire to
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Zina Sofer
Dr Ray Cook ‘hang onto your dreams’ Award: folio that demonstrates potential for further exploration. OUT OF THE SHADOWS Forgotten History of the War Widows’ Guild of Australia It makes me sad to see how my neighbourhood is changing. The housing estate in
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Zipeng Zheng & Hewen Qian
THE ROOM – SHORT FILM The Room is a poignant short film that sheds light on the intricacies of social anxiety, a specific subtype of anxiety disorder characterised by irrational and overwhelming fears of external stimuli. Those afflicted are acutely
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Zoe Willis
Kindred Cameras Award. In this portfolio, I present a series of photographs, each embodying a distinct theme and narrative. Inspired by cinematic aesthetics and fashion nuances, these images are more than visual representations – they aim to communicate truths, evoke
