Three emerging artists from Newcastle are turning personal, often unspoken, experiences into compelling visual narratives in a new exhibition at the city's Watt Space Gallery. The show, titled Unseen Unspoken, features the graduate work of Eliza Blackwell, Chloe Hooper, and Leanne Swainson, all recent Bachelor of Creative Practice completers from Newcastle Art School - TAFE NSW on Hunter Street.
Art as Advocacy: Giving Voice to the Invisible
For Eliza Blackwell, the exhibition is a platform to confront societal attitudes towards chronic illness. Her series, Elastica Contagiosa, delves into the lived reality of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder she was diagnosed with in her early 20s. Through linocuts and detailed drawings, she imagines how 18th-century medicine might have depicted her condition, posing a poignant question about modern healthcare.
"My work asks, if society could respond urgently to fictional diseases in the past, why do we accept decade-long delays in diagnosing real conditions today?" Blackwell states. She shares her own history of medical gaslighting, where her pain was dismissed because her condition was not visibly apparent. Her intricate entomological drawings on copper serve as a powerful metaphor for the often-hidden nature of such disabilities.
Exploring Women's Health and Personal Dreams
Leanne Swainson's contribution, The Shape of Silence, uses textiles and fibre to break the silence surrounding women's health, with a particular focus on menopause. Her work is a deeply personal tribute and a call for communal recognition.
"I decided I want to represent all the women on the planet," Swainson explains. "This is for them. I want them to come in and identify... and know they are part of this work." Her passion stems from profound loss, having lost her mother to a stroke while she was on Hormone Replacement Therapy. Swainson credits her art degree with giving her the confidence to create work about subjects embedded in her heart.
In contrast, Chloe Hooper's exhibit, Somnium, explores the ethereal world of dreams. The Latin-derived title, meaning fantasy or daydream, frames a body of work that includes Memories Unearthed, a piece featuring family heirlooms, and a series of 100 'quick portraits' capturing raw emotions upon waking.
A Nurturing Hub for Newcastle's Art Scene
The exhibition highlights the vital role of the Newcastle Art School in fostering local talent. Visual arts teacher Andy Devine, who mentored all three graduates, emphasises the institution's close-knit, supportive culture. "The art community here is incredibly close-knit... There's a strong culture of face-to-face support, guiding and nurturing students to achieve their aspirations," Devine says.
The Hunter Street campus is a comprehensive creative hub, hosting about 60 visual arts and 80 digital arts students. Facilities include studio spaces, ceramic kilns, darkrooms, workshops, and a gallery that refreshes its shows every three weeks. The teaching staff, including working artists like Vera Zulumovski and Michelle Brodie, form a who's who of the local art scene, ensuring students are taught by practising professionals.
The Unseen Unspoken exhibition runs at Watt Space Gallery, located at the corner of King and Auckland streets in Newcastle, until December 13. The gallery is open Wednesday to Friday from 10am to 5pm, and on Saturday from noon to 4pm.
