HATCHED | National Graduate Show

Master of Philosophy (Fine Art) post graduate students Louisa Magrics & Eloise Genner from the University of Newcastle have been selected as finalists for the Hatched: National Graduate Show. This exhibition is a showcase of Australia’s next generation of emerging contemporary artists. Celebrating its 25th year at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, the exhibition brings together 34 outstanding artists from universities across the nation.

“It’s an invaluable experience meeting the other artists. Everyone is incredibly talented and it’s amazing to see their work and have the opportunity to discuss their practices” comments Magrics.

During the opening night, a $35,000 Schenberg Art Fellowship is awarded to one of these emerging artists for career development. The University of Newcastle has an abundance of incredible talent, with two of the last three winners of this prize being awarded to its Fine Art graduates Shan Turner-Carroll (2013) and Andrew Styan (2015).

Magrics is an artist who is constantly pushing boundaries and using new media, technologies and practices. She combines elements of rhythm, timing, harmony and dynamics, from her musical background, to the fine art of crochet. These crocheted rhythmic patterns have led to an exploration of abstracted geometric and architectural forms. Magrics’ selected artwork Parabola took her more than 270 hours to complete.

“I’m considering the traditionally domestic context of crochet and how this has shaped our understanding of the medium itself. When viewed outside of this frame it has immense practical potential for realizing complex designs" comments Magrics.

Magrics’ practices are always evolving with the development of new skills and ideas. She challenges notions of the possibilities of crochet by investigating the mathematical foundation of design and patterns.

In the midst of concern about the future of Fine Arts education, Magrics’ and Genner’s participation in Hatched is testament to the high quality artists that the University of Newcastle produces. Newcastle is an arts hub with the highest number of artists per capita in Australia. Magrics hopes that the focus on “creative industries” does not take away the opportunity for young art students to study and make art which focuses on ideas and concepts rather than the commercial aspects of art.

Join Magrics and Genner at the opening night of Hatched this Friday night at Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts from 6.30pm.

{Images courtesy of artist & Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts}