Verse Magazine - Edition 55

VERSE

CREATIVES IN CONVERSATION

STUDENT STYLE

NO MAN'S LAND COMIC SHOT IN THE DARK COMIC

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

It was and always will be Aboriginal land.

Verse Magazine acknowledges the Kaurna, Boandik and Barngarla First Nations People as the traditional custodians of the unceded lands that are now home to the Univeristy of South Australia’s campuses in Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Whyalla. Verse Magazine respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past, present and emerging. Verse Magazine also acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia.

CON TENTS

COVER ART BY MOORA NGUYEN

GOODBYE FROM THE EDITORS

We’ve finally reached the final edition for 2023, coinciding with the final project for this year’s Verse Team. It has been an incredible, challenging and empowering experience being the Head Editor of Verse Magazine. The mere beauty of being able to share and uplift voices from the UniSA community has been the highlight of this journey, and I look forward to being a long-term supporter of Verse after the fulfilment of my term.

Edition 55, the “Subversive” edition, is a special instalment for numerous reasons. It’s an entire edition dedicated to creative disciplines such as, creative writing, photography and illustrations. To subvert is to disrupt a system of conventions; to express without boundaries. Creativity is a mechanism for this, so it was only fitting to feature exclusively creative works in this issue.

Edition 55 is decorated with sentimental poetry, atypical collages, culturally-infused contemporary artwork, and throughout all pages, idiosyncratic perspectives.

We truly hope that you enjoy the final edition of Verse by us, it’s been a pleasure.

Tamara Montina Head Editor

I've just finished the last edition of the year. Being part of the Verse team has given me a lot of learning, but above all, a lot of happiness. While I wasn't such a fan of InDesign at the beginning, now I love it! I just want to say thank you to everyone who had the courage to share their art, and to those who haven't yet, go for it! Your works deserve to be seen, and your words deserve to be heard. And there's so much happiness in knowing how it feels when your work is featured, when your parents or friends share that joy because you're doing it right – it's priceless. Encouraging my classmates to submit their artworks wasn't easy, but it was incredibly rewarding to see how happy they were when they saw their work in the magazine. Finally, I want to thank USASA for giving me the opportunity to be part of this team, especially Jackson and Alexander, two great individuals who are doing a lot to help students like me succeed.

Lucia Rojas Graphic Designer

It was a pleasure seeing my creations and yours come to life, intertwining in creative harmony, on the social media page. I loved illustrating your written words and highlighting your stunning visuals. It was an honor to be able to play a part in sharing your ideas. This collaboration of creativity is something I will forever treasure.

Thank you and until next time,

Taybah Hamza Content & Design Assistant

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ENERGY

1. ENERGY BY BEYONCé FEAT. BEAM

2. shirT bY szA

3. Blinding liGhts bY the weEkNd

4. nonsense bY sAbRinA CArpenTer

5. CRuEl sumMer bY tAYlor swifT

6. fetish bY selenA Gomez, feat. GuCci mAne

7. we're GoOd bY dua lipA

8. i wAnNA be YOurs bY pink sweat$, CRush

9. jeans bY jessiE reYez, miGuEl

10. moneY - r3hAb remix bY miquElA, r3hAb

STUDENT STYLE

street style

"WHAT DOES FASHION MEAN TO YOU?”

A PROMPT ANSWERED BY 2 STUDENTS ON CAMPUS.

BethshebA BArliEA

Bachelor of Journalism and Professional Writing

“Fashion, to me, is a mode of selfexpression. It grants me the daily privilege of crafting my identity, waking up each day to embody the person I want to be. It’s more than just clothes or accessories to me, it’s creativity, it’s ceremonious, it infuses life with a dose of excitement.”

STREET STYLE

Yuan MiGuEl guErRero

Yuan MiGuEl guErRero

Bachelor of Contemporary Arts

“Fashion to me is comfort. It’s one of those rare things in life that I am able to control.”

Sequin-Stetted Teeth

You say you rock razor blade shades, strut under stadium lights. Like you’re secure. Pop a bottle of exoneration, free yourself of the *punk* & *pussy* childhood foes pinned on you because they were childhood foes. Wheel out your intestines & strangle the remembering. Begin the unbecoming, purge the painful & coat yourself in bravery. Walk through a wasp wonderland wearing only this code. Glutton your mouth with gold nuggets, your words audacious, strike back. You crack open like a coconut & leak blood & leave the teary lad behind the one with scary fist & vague aura. Today, you smear armor oil across your chest & let the dirty memories muster you. Let a pistol bloom under your tongue.

EXCERPT FROM NO MAN'S LAND

in conversation with

CREATIVES

-Interview-

Tamara Montina

converses with 3 UniSA creatives on their artistic discipline.

JADE

Tell us about yourself and your creative practice!

Hey! I’m Jade. I’m studying a Bachelor of Creative Industries, majoring in Communications and Media with a minor in digital media. I’m in my last year of uni but for the last seven years have also been working as a hairdresser.

Every creative has an origin story, do you recall any early memories sparking interest in your creative practice? What or who motivates your creative pursuits?

I’ve always been a creative person, from a young age I loved painting and all things messy. But I kind of fell into hairdressing (and then editorial shoots) on a bit of a whim but ended up loving the creativity that came with the job.

I find inspiration in all kinds of places, from movies and books, i especially love the instagram page @velvetcoke. They post great pop culture media from across the decades.

The workload while studying at Uni can be overbearing at times, how do you manage to complete creative projects while juggling your study commitments?

I ask myself this still. And sometimes put myself under more pressure than needed to try and fit everything in. To help myself with this I make sure I have everything I’m working on/ planning in my calendar. I find that it frees up space in my head and helps me see where I should be spending time on certain tasks.

What has been the highlight of your journey as a creative so far?

I just love working with a range of different people, collaborating on different projects and bringing ideas to life is so fun. I love when people come to me with wild ideas that push my boundaries. While it’s always nice to have your work published, I always love the relationships and work we have built together.

How has your degree informed your craft?

It’s given me an insight to where I can push my creative work. I’ve been lucky enough to work with great people who have assisted me in bringing my ideas to life but everything would just go on social media after.

I wanted to do this degree to give me an idea of where and how I could drive this to be more. Something we are all guilty of is looking at projects on social media that took hours of planning

and executing for it to then get a moment of attention and, if you’re lucky, a like.

What advice would you impart on students who are seeking creative pursuits outside of their degrees?

Work with as many people as you can, try not to get stuck in the same group of people. It’s obviously more than okay to have your core group you work well with but make sure you’re challenging yourself!

JADE LANGFORD

SHEYDIN

Tell us about yourself and your creative practice!

Hello! I’m Sheydin - an Adelaide Hills based comic creator and artist, otherwise known as Sheydedart online! I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Design: Communication Design, but outside of uni, I love nothing more than to develop my comic “No Man’s Land”, a roller skating series with an all girls cast! If I’m not found sketching or doodling, I’m usually found boxing at my club in the Adelaide Hills or chatting about some of the best Aussie comics on the ComX Net AU live streams!

Every creative has an origin story, do you recall any early memories sparking interest in your creative practice? What or who motivates your creative pursuits?

I’ve been told that ever since I could really hold a pencil was when I began my creative endeavours, doodling anything and everything on furniture, my mum’s uni assignments and even my dad’s very important work diaries!

Growing up, I taught myself how to draw by sketching pictures from one of my all time favourite children’s book “Bedtime Stories” by Shirley Barber when I was 5. I was always so amazed at how beautifully drawn her illustrations were of fairies, which is why she was one of my first influences in my creative career.

These days, a lot of my inspiration is derived from the Dutch digital artist, Lois van Baarle, otherwise known as Loish on Instagram. Her understanding of colour in her work, has always motivated me experiment with my own art style.

The workload while studying at Uni can be overbearing at times, how do you manage to complete creative projects while juggling your study commitments?

Calendars and more calendars! I’d like to think I’m a pretty organised individual juggling 2 jobs and personal projects while studying, and my greatest habit that has kept me in check, is ‘time blocking’. Everyday I take time in the morning to divide my day into blocks including work, study, time with friends and family, exercise and enough sleep! It’s not always easy, however, by making sure my top priorities are completed, I can always rest assured I’ve don’t the best I possibly can for that day. I always leave at least one day per week where I don’t schedule anything, so I’m still free to do whatever my little heart desires in the moment!

What has been the highlight of your journey as a creative so far?

So far there have been many milestones in my creative journey! Earlier this year I sold my artwork at AVCON for the very first time, having wanted to do so for many, many years! Another goal of mine was to exhibit my artwork in a SALA event, and when I was invited to be part of a SALA exhibition by my old design teacher from school, I had no idea that I would go on to sell my piece too! However, to take the cake for me so far, was to have the honour of judging over 100 Australian comics, for the Comics Arts Award of Australia, previously known

as The Ledgers Awards! It was from this privilege, that I was able to marvel at the immense talent and diversity in the Aussie comics community!

How has your degree informed your craft?

Studying here at Uni SA, has really helped in developing an eye for composition in all aspects of my work, whether it be an artwork or designing my own comic. The skills and people I have met have met thus far in my degree have been extremely helpful in creating foundation to what I hope is the start of an incredibly fun design journey!

What advice would you impart on students who are seeking creative pursuits outside of their degrees?

My best piece of advice for others wanting to test the waters with any creative pursuit is to reach out and get in touch with other like minded people! University is certainly one of the best places to do this, with the many student clubs dotted around the place! With regards to comics, Adelaide is such a hot spot for indie creators, and is such a welcoming community! There is always something happening on the comics scene, be it on Discord or at the many local markets! You’re just bound to meet some fantastic creatives to help you get started!

SHEYDIN DEW

RAIYA

Tell us about yourself and your creative practice!

Hi, I’m Raiya! I recently graduated from the Bachelor of Architectural Design, and I am currently doing my Master of Design (Interior Architecture) - I switched it up a little as I want specialise specifically in interiors. Outside of my studies, I do freelance work as a stylist! Mostly just collaborative photoshoots with other creatives, but some work for publications such as Homebound, campaigns, etc.

Every creative has an origin story, do you recall any early memories sparking interest in your creative practice? What or who motivates your creative pursuits?

Since I was a kid I have always really loved fashion. My sister and I would dress up and do “runway shows” for my family all the time. As a teenager I got really into thrifting and began to learn how to piece together outfits with the clothes I found. As for styling specifically, it kind of happened accidentally for me, just by helping a friend’s photoshoot and that got me to where I am today. But I continued with it as it truly reignited that passion and fun I had with fashion and creating outfits when I was younger.

I’m pursuing my creative outlet as a kid now as an adult, which is a really fulfilling feeling.

My creative pursuits always come and go. I become fascinated with a subject or practise by seeing it online or in a shop or exhibition, but haven’t really ever stuck to one thing, besides styling. For example I’m really interested in furniture design at the moment, facilitated by my studies. I would say what motivates me is that I am able to try different things and see where it takes me, whether it stays as something I’ve done once or becomes a full blown hobby or job. I don’t have to stay in one lane and it’s ok if things don’t work out, it’s just good to try and start somewhere. I didn’t think styling would work out for me, but I’ve done a few shoots now and it somehow has been the thing people recognise me as, which blows my mind. I have met so many amazing people and creatives in Adelaide in the last year, I am honestly truly inspired by the talent this small city holds and it’s amazing to watch everyone grow and showcase their talents.

The workload while studying at Uni can be overbearing at times, how do you manage to complete creative projects while juggling your study commitments?

I’m not the best when it comes to juggling multiple commitments to be honest. It depends how my workload is at a certain time with uni, but I would say I try to keep my styling jobs at times where uni isn’t so hectic or in my breaks. Of course, styling has become a huge passion of mine, but my studies do come first so I just have to pick and choose if the time and effort it takes for a shoot is doable or if we can work around my schedule. For the most part it’s been pretty good so far though.

What has been the highlight of your journey as a creative so far?

That’s tough as I am still building my experience, so I just appreciate every job I’m asked to work on! I would say that the Homebound shoots have been really fun as I get a lot of creative freedom to style and we do many outfits so there’s a lot to work with.

How has your degree informed your craft?

I think the lens I look at fashion and building outfits is somewhat informed by what I’ve learnt in my studies so far in architecture and interiors. I think design skills and techniques definitely can definitely be applied to curating and crafting outfits, especially when it comes to texture, materiality, colour, transparency and other elements like that, and I try to keep that in mind when doing so.

What advice would you impart on students who are seeking creative pursuits outside of their degrees?

I would honestly say just go for it. If there’s something you’ve been wanting to try but it’s completely different to what you’re studying, do it anyway! It doesn’t have to be related to what you’re studying. I think everyone need some sort of outlet anyway and if that is a creative pursuit for you then give it a go. The best thing would be to try and make connections within that creative field that could bolster your work and help you practise and develop. I know it can be daunting at first, but that one interaction can honestly lead to so much more. Even if you try doing it just by yourself at first, it’s good to sort of have a portfolio or visual diary, like an instagram to showcase your work if you want others to see or connect with people. Besides that, just take it day by day and practise when you can, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you need to focus on your study, just do little bits in your free time as an outlet from the stress of studying. I believe in you!

RAIYA ERNST

ARTWORK HELEINA GARCIA

It’s almost midnight, but it’s brighter than any day. In here, there are four rectangular suns. They will not relent until the land they shine upon is rid of all filth and imperfection, or at least is clean enough that upper management doesn’t complain.

This is the final stretch, my body’s fatigued and my head’s buzzing at the same frequency as the droning exhaust fans. The four suns work in unison to obliterate any trace of a shadow, including my own. I’m in limbo, at this moment, I am not real. The only evidence that I am here is the 97 dollars that will hopefully find its way to my bank account.

Squeegee in hand, I squat down and extend it under the fry-holder, then pull it back towards my chest. A wave of something between oil and water sloshes out along with the squeegee and is swallowed by a drain. Scooching back, still low to the ground, I scope out the aftermath of the tsunami.

Yep, every time.

A fry always manages to escape its fate, this one has cleverly positioned itself in the narrow gap between the fry-holder and deep-fryer. Too thin a gap to squeegee and under enough cover to go undetected when standing, well played. I know I’m going to drop

to my knees and grab it, I always do, and I always will. None the less, I will always hate myself for this exertion. Why do I choose to put my energy into this? There are far nobler things I could be putting my energy into that are far more meaningful and helpful. Probably. And besides, the food here kinda sucks.

At this, I realise the droning exhaust has almost succeeded in smoothing my brain entirely. In an effort to block out the insidious frequencies, I turn up my earphone volume and restart the song I fazed out of.

WORDS ARCHIBALD BARONE

Dregs

Don’t make me sad yet pursuing the spark followed by a flame seems unoppressive.

Autmn jazz, verdant grey

waiting by the phone for you like a little kid. I’ll love you more, and I’ll always love you more as it should be

as it must.

Deep in my jitters I’ll call out from the bottomless orange lilacs in a meadow. A cow, and some chickens

you planted a kiss on my cheek when it was dirty overgrown root’s.

No one stays long enough to sit with love no one stays long enough to try to.

Try to?

I like seeing empty coffee dregs where people have been.

WORDS NATALIA PROKOPOWICZ

Let me call my neighbors who they were —humans heavy of the world who brilliantly taught me malice and deceit, branding me in grim.

Don’t make the main character unlikeable. But what’s more likeable than a monster offering his arteries, his secrets?

The last time I saw angels dangle was before I stole, before lied about being thirteen to get a job. I see my spiked nature. I see it in the others too.

Oh, scorpions and soldiers, a body cannot live without a couple drops of evil. Who hath summoned me to be a bruised saint?

A jelly fish sting upon you who scammed me out of $200. That night I bit into a pretty peach that veiled a blade, the taste of gore, a dream.

I gamble with my sanity. I mistake myself for an alien ally. Octanes of evil make this land a cemetery elegant and horrid. Look under your nails. The residue of betrayal and lies you left upon your precious people on your journey. If you carve my core, you will see I want out of evil.

I still reap sins hard to remember, the ones I cast on myself. But who can be the regulator of my evil? Fury erupts to self-flame and I become a quiet case of knives.

I feed the serial lover in me, nurture the morose person. Here is when I ask God to retire for a holier God who shows mercy on me. Everything seems held for ransom— the exchange of voice for victory, truth for peace.

WORDS OAK MORSE

SHOT IN THE DARK

Series

ARTIST STATEMENT

This series of works act as the link between my heritage and creative expression. The works presented are sculptural assemblages containing a mixed variety of construction material. This work, as a result from practice-led research conceptualises the essence of my personal longing for a connection between myself and the Philippines. Being born as a second generation Australian and raised in a Filipino household there was always a lingering feeling of unfulfillment and that I was never enough in regards to being ‘true’ Filipino; the ambiguity and sense of being in-between is what had inspired me to base my project on, as a way to somewhat reconnect with my ethnicity. To me, thinking of the countless days that I had spent in the Philippines I had always felt safe within the areas that most people would otherwise consider dangerous, rural, or poor. These were the provinces, villages, slums, local village food and street markets. From this, I thought about conceptualising this idea, and bringing those aspects to my current work.

WORDS YUAN MIGUEL GUERRERO

of Work

BAYAN SERIES

PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES

THE DINER SERIES

MILKSHAKE GIRLS

Perspectives

I looked at my father today. Not just glanced or held his gaze. I really looked.

I saw all the deep wrinkles that pointed in towards those forever smiling eyes. I like to joke with my sister that even from behind, dad always looks like he's smiling. So many years spent with that grin full of cheeky glee has permanently etched those smile lines as a badge of honour. His hair is shiny silver, and wistfully light and thin, falling across his forehead with small curls that slightly flick up at the tips. He nods and listens with intent when I speak to him. My favourite view of my dad is when he talks about his passions. Mostly bowls. His face lights up, and his enthusiasm flows all through his body. His arm and hand gestures are obviously unconscious, but he can't help himself. He will remember specific games and moments when he was proud. Proud of himself, but more often than not, when he was proud of someone else.

I gave dad a really long hug and just sat next to him with my arm around his shoulder. I could feel his arms and muscles, his back and waist. It wasn't surprising to me how he felt, but I finally realised how old he had become. It makes me think about when he won't be here anymore. I try and stop myself but sometimes I cant help it. Instead I've been trying to catch myself and turn them into moments where I stop and appreciate what I have now, and what I want to do with our time together.

I get mixed feelings still. I just want to make him proud.

I love him so much.

WORDS MARC SCOTT

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My name is Isaac Solomon, and I am the USASA President for 2023.

Thank you President’s Letter

This will be my final President’s letter in Verse Magazine. It has been an honour to serve as your Student President for the past two years.

As I hand over to the incoming President, I hope that I have left both USASA and UniSA better off than when I started.

When I first ran to become President, we were dealing with the aftermath of the lockdowns. The tail end of the measures that saw students go 100%

online due to the pandemic that we still live with today. My message and my team’s message was very clear, we needed to reconnect. Reconnect students with one another, with services and with a sense of purpose.

In 2022 that’s exactly what we did, we set out to bring life back to campus by supporting clubs, pushing for bigger and better events, better student spaces, more engaging course contents and a fairer go for all students. We did the things that matter most to everyday students.

In 2023 we set out to ensure that campus was an engaging, welcoming and a safe place for every UniSA student. We successfully pushed for the beginning of the Preferred Name project to end deadnaming. We’ve taken action to strengthen student safety and bring Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment (SASH) prevention to the forefront of the University’s priorities. We launched the Student Voice project, with the simple yet ambitious goal of ensuring that in any decision-making body where decisions are made about students, there are students in that room, part of that decision.

hear their issues for the first time. USASA’s retail service has expanded with a boarder range of options available to students and easy access to program specific clothing for many cohorts. We successfully pushed for the $10 million student hardship fund established during covid to become a permanent fixture that will continue to generations of struggling students into the future. We delivered on our promise to open the Club House as a bookable club space after years of closure and with work due to happen later in the year, the space has so much to offer for UniSA students. We stood up and were bold on advocating for a Yes vote in the referendum on a Voice to Parliament. We were the only South Australian University where both the University and

In 2022 USASA developed its first ever Reconciliation Strategy and has seen it implemented over the course of 2023. We took active steps to truly engage HDR students and

Reconnect students with one another, with services and with a sense of purpose.

the student organisation decided to take a stance. We’ve collaborated with Student and Academic Services (SAS) to create and strengthen academic policies which reflect the values and expectations of the student community. Having said all of this, there is so much more, I don’t have the room to mention.

My Presidency has been one of unprecedented moments. Earlier this year, the decision was made to chart a course towards establishing a new university from the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia. While challenging, we took steps to advocate that this should not just be a combination of its constituent parts but instead a new university based on the best examples of what is possible around the world. I am lucky to have overseen the start of that process, asking “what does the ideal university look like” and daring to dream. While the exact nature of the legislation is yet uncertain, I believe we have put our best foot forward and established just how important student input is for this new institution. We, the students are the single biggest stakeholder in any university and I think we would do well to remember that. The work on designing the new university has only just begun and we hold immense power in that process.

After 10 years in the organisation, our General Manager, Daniel Randell decided it was time to move on. Daniel is one of the main reasons USASA is what is today. He transformed a youthful and uncertain organisation into something all UniSA students can be proud of.

With Daniel leaving, it fell to me and your board to chart a course into the future of the organisation and while this task is a never-ending one, I believe the work we have done thus far will leave it in good stead for all those to come.

While I can’t fit all of the amazing things we have achieved together into one letter, I have tried to cover off on a few. At the end of it all, I remember one thing, it is the students that make a university.

It has been a pleasure to serve as your President over the past two years.

So, for the last time as your President,

Contributors

Archibald Barone

Bethsheba Barliea

Chanitra Phornthanavarsit

Evanthea Kyriacou

Graziela Franca De Matos

Heleina Garcia

Isaac Solomon

Liliana Carletti

Lucia Rojas

Marc Scott

Mia Nguyen

Moora Nguyen

Natalia Prokopowicz

Oak Morse

Olivia Halliday

Scarleth Molina Arias

Sheydin Dew

Tamara Montina

Taybah Hamza

Yuan Miguel Guerrero

@mochanitra

@tias_scribbles

@grazivisuals

@isaacdsolomon

@lilyrose.media

@picaronstudio

@marcscott14

@mia.nguyen284

@nanaspace7

@_natalia_olivia

@oak_morse

@oliviahalliiday

@scar_cube

@sheydedart

@bytamaramontina

@_designbytay

@yuanguerrer0