Our Year 12 Visual Arts students recently traded their Shire classrooms for the vibrant cultural laneways of Melbourne on an unforgettable 3 day excursion. This was designed to continue inspiration for their upcoming HSC Body of Work and expand their appreciation of contemporary creative practices.
The trip was a huge success filled with art, culture, and plenty of Melbourne’s famous chocolate. Across the trip, students were constantly making connections between professional gallery displays and their own art practices.
The journey began with a super early flight to Melbourne. First stop was the NGV International, where students analyzed traditional, modern, postmodern and contemporary masterpieces, examining curation choices and scale. We then crossed Federation Square to The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, where a major highlight of the trip awaited: the Top Arts exhibition. Viewing exceptional Year 12 major works from Victorian graduates was immensely powerful for our cohort. They spent time closely studying the developmental folios and finished pieces, gaining invaluable insights into material experimentation, conceptual depth, and refined presentation strategies to apply directly to their own HSC Body of Work.
A stroll through Hosier Lane offered an energetic counterpoint, letting students witness raw, evolving stencil art and large-scale spray painted murals in Melbourne’s famous urban landscape. Moving beyond traditional gallery walls, students explored how technology and street culture redefine art today. At ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image), they engaged with interactive digital installations, video art, and modern screen culture. To cap off our Saturday evening, we visited Lightscape at the Royal Botanic Gardens, where the cohort walked through an enchanting outdoor trail featuring immersive light sculptures, glowing tree canopies, and ambient soundscapes that demonstrated the power of site-specific art.
Between packed gallery visits, students fully embraced Melbourne's world-renowned food and cafe scene. We made a lively stop at the bustling Queen Victoria Market, where students browsed local artisan goods, captured street photography, and refuelled with delicious local food. Throughout the trip, quick stops at Melbourne’s iconic laneway cafes offered much-needed moments to rest, grab a hot chocolate or pastry, and sit together to discuss the day’s inspiring discoveries.
Seeing such a wide range of mediums in person – from traditional oil paintings to multi-sensory light installations – gave our class a whole new perspective as they fine-tune their own artistic concepts. Thanks Yr 12 for an amazing excursion!
Miss Susie Yock
Head of Visual Arts
