NEGS artist’s work chosen for state exhibition

A young NEGS artist who spent a week on Tiwi Island last year taking photographs for her HSC major work has been included in this year’s Art Express exhibition.
Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay congratulated Abbey Swinn for being one of only 44 young HSC artists to be selected for the prestigious exhibition, currently at the Art Gallery of NSW.
It will be shown at the Tamworth Regional Gallery from April 29 to May 31 as part of this year’s Art Express state tour.
“Abbey achieved a much deserved Band 6 for art in the HSC and is a very promising young artist,” Mr Torbay said.
“I wish her well in her future career and join those who are delighted her art work has achieved this recognition.”
NEGS Principal Ian Downs said he willingly gave the student a week off school last year to travel to Tiwi Island to take photographs.
Using the 64 year life expectancy of Aboriginal people compared to 84 for Caucasian Australians as her theme Abbey took 64 photographs of members of the Tiwi community.
“I photographed each and every one of them, capturing the frame of the face between the circled lens of my camera,” she says. “Sixty-four mirrored black eyes, each telling a different story. Along with this portrait I also collected their dreams, their secret thoughts.”
According to Mr Downs it is “an absolutely stunning art work and thoroughly deserving of a place in the Art Express exhibition”.