Creativity and Quarantine a collection of lockdown experiences
GENEXT Goes Online
Contents Editor's Note Who are we? Victor Zhou, AGNSW Leo Malone, NGA Selina, MCA Jacob Magan, AGWA Evelyn, NGA Ryan Ng, AGWA Tahlia Jard, NGA Tallulah, MCA Round Robin Interview Bastian Interview
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Editor's Note With GENEXT moving online, we had the opportunity to explore new ways to deliver the message of GENEXT. We wanted to maintain a sense of community, continue to give opportunity to young artists and use art as a way to find our way through these uncertain times. So, we designed this collaborative zine! Together with young people from the Art Gallery of South Australia Neo committee, Art IRL at the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of Western Australia Pulse and the Art Gallery of New South Wales Youth Collective, we discussed our experiences of quarantine. We focused on our sense of community and how it has shifted, how we have been making and accessing art during these times and what our world may look like post-quarantine. We also discussed what it meant to be a young person in a museum, and what role museums play in our world. We had so many talented young people contribute their ideas and artworks to this zine, with so many amazing, unique responses. We hope that you enjoy it!
-Tallulah, MCA Youth Committee
Who are we? MCA YOUTH COMMITTEE
The Museum of Contemporary Art's Youth Committee organise their flagship program GENEXT, a free artfestival event for 12-18 year olds. We work on the land and waters of the Gadigal people in Sydney, NSW.
NGA ART IRL
AGWA Pulse
The Art Gallery of WA’s Youth Advisory Panel informs Pulse programming for young people aged 15-21 years old. We live and work on the traditional land of the Whadjuk Noongar people in Perth, Western Australia.
The National Gallery of Australia’s Teen Council co-produce the afterhours Art IRL: Teen Takeovers and contribute toward online activations. We are based in the Canberra region and live in the ACT and NSW.
Who are we? AGNSW Youth Collective
The Youth Collective work closely with Art Gallery of NSW staff, industry professionals and artists to produce FOMArt, a monthly program featuring interviews and talks, performances by young musicians, collaborative workshops with local artists.
AGSA Neo Ambassador Committee
The Neo Ambassador Committee is a collective of teen volunteers who are vital to the development and presentation of Neo, the Art Gallery of South Australia's flagship program for 13-17 year olds. The Ambassadors are involved in all layers of the Neo program, from collaborating and producing, to making noise alongside artists at events. We live and work on Kaurna land, in Adelaide South Australia.
Victor Zhou - AGNSW My name is: Victor Zhou I am exactly this old: 20 My preferred pronouns are: he/him I am part of (gallery/teen council): Art gallery of NSW Most weekends you can find me: Watching anime and reading. If I was an artwork I would be: The Mr. and Mrs. Smith film. I want to be all of it. Favourite question to be asked?: Why do you worship The Mrs and Mrs Smith film? What curiosity/hunger/opportunity compelled you to apply to be part of AGNSW?!: I have always found the Art Gallery of NSW to have a wonderful atmosphere, and by being a part of the Youth Collective I can involve myself with the gallery and work with new people. I think the Youth Collective will be a challenge, but one that I am excited to meet. Best thing about being a young person at AGNSW?: The other young people that I have made friends with. Self-isolation had led me to read more, my favourite reading place is next to my mother’s dragon fruit garden. Over weeks, the dragon fruits seemed stranger to me. They were so oddly shaped; they looked like alien eggs. And the ants would huddle around the tip of the dragon fruits. The flowers of the cacti would also open and close, and then they would eventually turn into little baby dragon fruits. I wanted to paint them, but I wanted to capture its intensity of life, how it kept growing, and dying. In my final artwork, the dragon fruits are ambiguous forms which seem to be flying forward and towards something with the ‘ants’ on top with them. I wonder what will happen after postCOVID, I hope we become more in tune with ecology.
Selina - MCA Youth Committee My name is: Selina I am exactly this old: 15 My preferred pronouns are: She/her I am part of (gallery/teen council): 2020 MCA Youth Committee Most weekends you can find me: Playing with my bird or biking around the neighbourhood. If I was an artwork I would be: Claude Monet - Wild Poppies, near Argenteuil 1873. I’m not sure what compels me to this painting. Maybe it’s the enigma of the poppy field and the women roaming through it. Favourite question to be asked?: Why is your handwriting so bad? What curiosity/hunger/opportunity compelled you to apply to be part of MCA Youth Committee?!: I honestly don’t have many friends outside of school, so I wanted to put my creativity in a place where I could also meet groups of diverse and innovative young people. Best thing about being a young person at MCA Youth Committee?: We are constantly buzzing with new ideas.
Jacob Mangan - AGWA Youth Pulse
My name is: Jacob Mangan I am exactly this old: 18 and like 3 months My preferred pronouns are: he/him I am part of (gallery/teen council):AGWA pulse Most weekends you can find me: In my garden If I was an artwork I would be: Anything Del Kathryn Barton Favourite question to be asked?: What's your favourite colour? What curiosity/hunger/opportunity compelled you to apply to be part of AGWA Pulse?!: Keen interest in art and meeting people my own age that are like minded. Best thing about being a young person at AGWA Pulse?: The other members are wicked people
ok so here is my piece I don’t know if you need a blurb for it but its pretty much a “self portrait” of my room because that’s where I have spent most of my time in isolation its like a self portrait and how my environment influences my identity. And all of the time I have spent in it observing the outside world from my room and connecting with others too.
“COMMUNITY” my laptop is highlighted because that’s how I've communicated with the outside world. “CREATIVITY” we can see art supplies scattered around my room, artworks in process, artworks on my walls and on the other side sticky notes with ideas and concepts for artworks. “FUTURE FACING” the window is like a mirror because it reveals the idea that the future is now and that when we look to the future we are the future. Oh and its In gouache
Evelyn - Art IRL NGA My name is Evelyn I am 14 years old My preferred pronouns are she and her I am part of NGA teen council: Art IRL at the National Gallery of Australia Most weekends you can find me playing and listening to music and spending time with friends. If I was an artwork I’d be an abstract statue. My favourite question to be asked is where I would like to travel. I was intrigued about the opportunities to meet more people my age who are just as passionate about the arts as I am, and be able to bring amazing experiences to others our age.
Evelyn - Art IRL NGA Quarantine has inspired me to try to broaden my artistic abilities, with new styles and mediums. Art has also been a way for me to express my feelings throughout this time and also be more conscious of different issues that the pandemic has brought us.
Ryan NG - AGWA Pulse My name is Ryan Ng (he/him). As of May 18th, I am exactly 7369 days old. That’s 20 years, 2 months, and 3 days. I am an artist from Penang, Malaysia, and moved to WA in August 2019 for university. After stumbling upon a very compelling Instagram ad, I joined AGWA Youth Pulse in early 2020 to better understand the art scene in Perth and hopefully to become further involved in the arts. On weekends you can either find me drawing, chilling in my room, or at a friend’s house cracking open a cold one. If I were an artwork, I’d hope to be the album art of Neck Deep’s ‘Life’s Not Out to Get You’ studio album. I enjoy sharing my art practices with people who are interested, so shoot me any question about my art and I’d be happy to answer! Coming from an urban sketching background, I’ve always found it nice being a young person in an artistic community, as I can learn so much from those who are more experienced. I have full creative freedom without the pressure of making mistakes and I think that’s fun.
Virtual galleries. I think the pandemic has pushed the art world to think of creative (and more virtual) solutions to stay involved and connected. The majority of our youth already experience most of their art through online platforms such as Instagram, so I believe that galleries will only become more and more open to the possibilities of online viewing.
Ryan - AGWA Pulse A person sketches a picture of their family from their phone wallpaper while half-heartedly taking lecture notes. Creativity is how I deal with homesickness and uncertainty. It is how I cope with thinking of my family and when I can see them again.
Ryan - AGWA Pulse
I sometimes draw virtually with other artists using a makeshift phone holder. Thanks to technology, we are still very much connected. I intended to show the more whimsical side of the quarantine experience
Tahlia Jard - Art IRL NGA My name is: Tahlia Jard I am exactly this old: 18 years and 3 months My preferred pronouns are: She/Her I am part of (gallery/teen council): Art IRL at the National Gallery of Australia Most weekends you can find me: Doing drawing, painting and sometimes blacksmithing (!!) and leather works. As well as hanging out with my family. If I was an artwork I would be: The Ophelia art piece by John Everett Millais Favourite question to be asked?: “Can you really understand Japanese?� What curiosity/hunger/opportunity compelled you to apply to be part of Art IRL?!: The curiosity of what this can be, and the fun. Best thing about being a young person at NGA?: The experience I get from the Teen Council, meeting with new artists and musicians, and the behind the scenes of events that are being put together! And knowing I am an important part of the NGA!
The creativity under quarantine for looked like for me, was that it would an endless amount of creativity from all aspects as I was on my own for most of it, to live through this time off in isolation in my house with family and see no other members or friends that were basically restricted from me. It made go a bit stir crazy as all I did was art, art and art. I improved a lot during the time as you can see with the sea turtle leather book cover I did. It represents the freedom I wish in the end, want to glide around the world and have no obstacles in my way of a symbol of I can do what I can do again in my life. I am free of my room and talking to myself on occasion. The sea turtle is me and as I with the sea turtle. I am one with myself and one with the sea.
Tallulah - MCA Youth Committee
My name is: Tallulah I am exactly this old: 15 years 7 months 27 days (on 31st May) My preferred pronouns are: she/her I am part of (gallery/teen council): Museums of Contemporary Art Youth Committee Most weekends you can find me: At the beach, riding around the park and thrifting! If I was an artwork I would be: I’ve always loved the immense detail in Del Kathryn Barton’s work, in particular her 2010 work ‘come of things’. Favourite question to be asked?: Want to go get some food? What curiosity/hunger/opportunity compelled you to apply to be part of MCA YC?!: I wanted to make other young people smile and experience the same great feeling I get at GENEXT events. Best thing about being a young person at MCA YC?: You’re always surrounded by wonderful people and amazing art, and there’s always an optimistic feeling in the air.
Online Currently, my community is all online. To stay connected with everyone, I make sure I text someone each day and Facetime people once in a while. Quarantine has definitely shifted my perception of community, and at times I feel as though I may not be a part of one. But, I know that those I care about are only a call away, and that they’re there for me, even if I can’t see them in person. If I’ve learnt anything from these strange times, it’s the value of a phone call.
Tallulah - MCA Youth Committee
Missing You My post-quarantine happy place is a place where I can hug my friends. Even since going back to school, social distancing has changed the way we all interact. We have to sit apart, can't greet each other with a hug and can’t walk together, arm in arm. Coronavirus has also changed the way I interact with those close to me, but who live far away. In particular, my best friend, who moved to Queensland before the pandemic. I was planning on seeing her these past holidays. However, I now have no clue when I can next see her, and I miss her. I think we underestimate how important physical affection is, and how human touch is an intergarl part of human nature.
Round Robin
We’ve been inviting each gallery to submit some questions for all the contributors to respond to! A ‘round-robin’ interview of sorts! Below are questions submitted by MCA GENEXT, AGSA Neo, AGWA Pulse, NGA ARTIRL & AGNSW Youth Collective.
AGWA Pulse Youth Advisory Panel Question: How can galleries successfully represent the works of young artists to capture the voice of the community? By working closely with young people and their communities, galleries can successfully represent young artists and capture their voice. It’s all about listening and gaining an understanding. - Tallulah, MCA Youth Committee
AGNSW Youth Collective Question: How are you maintaining an interest in the arts from home? Looking into the process and life of other artists on YouTube, documentary, Instagram etc. - Jacob Mangan, AGWA PULSE
MCA GENEXT Question: Why should museums care what young people think?! Young people are in the continuous process of becoming and learning, we offer ideas that escape the norm, and appeal to our own future. - Victor Zhou, AGNSW Diversity and inclusion relates to age too . -Jacob Mangan, AGWA PULSE Because we hold some of the loudest voices and have some of the most influence in our current society. Especially when talking about ‘generation Z’ - we are said to be the most open indeed and creatively oriented generation so far, meaning we have so much more to say and create. - Leo, Art IRL
AGSA NEO Question: How has self-isolation changed the way you view and create art? Reflected on more on myself rather than the issues, ideas, and objects that attract me. - Jacob Mangan, AGWA PULSE Self-isolation has shown me how adaptable, diverse and unique art is, and how we all connect with art in some way or another. - Tallulah, MCA Youth Committee
AGSA NEO Question: What makes a masterpiece? Full of context and meaning as well as being aesthetically fitting. - Jacob Mangan, AGWA PULSE Art is too subjective an experience to universally agree upon such a definition; for me, a masterpiece is something that leaves a memorable/emotional impression on me. - Bethan Power, AGWA Pulse Emotion. When an artwork is born from strong emotion, it is impossible to ignore. The emotion and feeling is palpable and relatable enough to grab peoples attention and keep it. - Leo, Art IRL
NGA ARTIRL Question: How has the closure of art museums (and the absence of art) affected people? It depends on the person; as a year 12 student with an interest in the arts, I’ve missed spending time with my friends at my local galleries on the weekends/after school. - Bethan Power, AGWA Pulse I believe the closure of art museums has had some benefits for the art world. It has allowed for art to become more accessible, and has shown people who would not necessarily visit museums how they can connect with art and the ideas expressed in museums. - Tallulah, MCA Youth Committee
NGA ARTIRL Question: How can museums better help young creatives to begin a career in the arts? Older/respected artists can provide an apprenticeship but for art. Also a gallery space/collection open for young people to submit works to. - Jacob Mangan, AGWA PULSE I think that museums can create opening and welcoming opportunities such as teen councils which will enable young artists to learn more, meet new people and expose themselves to the world of art with the support of people who work in this area (who can provide them with insight and knowledge that they have gained through their experiences). - Linzi, Art IRL A major point of the GENEXT manifesto, which are the MCA Youth Committee’s guidelines for creating events, is demystifying the art world. When museums demystify the art world by hosting guest speakers, creating online resources and developing youth programs, it is really valuable to young creatives. - Tallulah, MCA Youth Committee
AGNSW Youth Collective Question: What has fuelled your creativity during this time? What kind of art have you been making? Plants and insects that I have never paid much attention to in my garden, until now, have helped me make artworks in isolation. - Victor Zhou, AGNSW Over the past few months, I’ve been drawing creatively from trying out new mediums and exploring them. This has lead me to find many new artists who have inspired me to create. I’ve been exploring photo manipulation and manipulating my own photographs. I’ve also been exploring plants, especially flowers and watching videos on them and drawing different types. - Linzi, Art IRL. Using what I’ve got, and finding new ways to use old materials has been my main creative outlet. I’ve been recycling old magazines and bits of construction paper to create artworks. - Tallulah, MCA Youth Committee