Exit Art 2024
By Arts Teacher, Miss Polly
Exit Art is a celebration of the talents and creativity of the next generation of artists and designers, presenting the very best contemporary art and design from Northern Territory Year 12 students. Presented by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in partnership with the Northern Territory Department of Education, Exit Art reflects the diversity of the Territory’s artistic practice and practitioners, expressing universal themes of identity, place and the environment.
The Honourable Mark Monaghan, The Northern Territory Minister for Education said
The exceptional quality of this year’s Exit Art Exhibition is a testament to the hard work of these students and the invaluable contributions of their teachers, their families and our wider community in nurturing their artistic talents and creative thinking.
I commend the remarkable achievements of the talented students who were recognised for their work in the 2024 Exit Art Awards. Their innovative works showcase the boundless creativity that flourishes in our schools and communities.
The Exit Art exhibition not only celebrates artistic excellence but also underscores the vital role Art plays in our school curriculum. It challenges students to use their imagination, express themselves, and provides them with an opportunity to be innovative and analytical in their learning and the execution of their ideas.
Darwin High School has 17 Artworks in this years exhibition, from Visual Arts, Photography, Film and Design. The following students were finalists selected from Darwin High. Hao Li, Jed Denniss, Takira Castillon, Hayley Ryan, Tia Nguyen, Jett Dungey, Grace Easton, Jessica Thomson, Matt Watson, Ada Sainamili Eaton, Tsabita Nabila, Finella Wells Kelly, Hannah Dela Cruz.
Acknowledging excellence in digital art, film and photography, the Art Teachers of Media NT Award was claimed by Matt Watson from Darwin High School for his short film titled Father’s tracks, for its visual techniques, symbolism and storytelling devices.
Artist’s statement
Father's tracks is a film about family bonds and the long-lasting impact of events that took place in the past.
The MAGNT Foundation Award was presented to Hao Li from Darwin High School for her digital illustrations in the form of a zine titled Visiting the Well demonstrating a profound understanding of artistic expression, creativity and exploration of emotions.
Artist’s statement
My zine explores themes of grief, loss, connection and the passing of time. Each copy of the zine is hand -stitched using different coloured thread to reflect how grief is experienced differently for everyone.
Hao Li from Darwin High School was also awarded the Jacksons Drawing Supplies Award with her work Visiting the Well 2023, showcasing an innovative approach to visual storytelling.
Judges statement, Helen Christensen – Jacksons Drawing supplies.
It is obvious to me that Hao put a lot of thought into the artwork and has a high level of skill not only with the visual expression of the theme but also in words and expression. I felt also that a small book or zine expressing the passage of time and the isolation that grief causes was the perfect substrate.
Darwin High School Visual and Creatives Arts Teachers of 2023 were Polly Johnstone, Tim O'Connor, Dina Mcquillan and Jemima Saunders. The People's Choice award is currently open, you can vote for your favourite by attending the exhibition in person or on MAGNT's webpage.
Congratulations to all the Darwin High School students involved and also to their dedicated teachers!
