Pulse Perspectives

Pulse Perspectives

WA's talented young artists are celebrated in this yearly showcase, gauging the pulse of young people who will influence, empower and shape the world we live in.

The selected works provide a window into young people’s private, social and artistic concerns. It is in turns an inspiring, rewarding and insightful look at the world through the minds of our most talented young artists.

This year’s exhibition features 30 works by 2020 Year 12 Visual Arts graduates from 21 schools across Western Australia. The chosen works span a variety of subject matter and media, ranging from painting and drawing to sculpture, digital moving image and textiles. Human impact on the environment, identity and family are prominent themes and issues explored in this year's Pulse Perspectives exhibition.

The judging panel for this year's exhibition included contemporary WA artist Amy Perejuan-Capone; Department of Education, Teacher Development Cassie Bussell, and former AGWA Associate Curator, Projects, Rachel Ciesla.

Get to know some of the talented young artists behind this year’s Pulse Perspectives exhibition in our series.

Meet the Artist

Access map

How to get here

While we undertake exciting redevelopment works, visitor entry is from the Beaufort Street entrance with Pulse Perspectives on display in the Centenary Galleries. 

The Beaufort Street entrance is located just after the intersection of Roe Street and Beaufort Street. If arriving from the Perth Train Station, walk through the Perth Train Station to the Beaufort Street exit. Then turn left and continue up Beaufort Street to the entrance.

Tour the exhibition

Thanks to the support of Healthway Act-Belong-Commit, you can now explore the exhibition from the comfort of your own home. We hope you enjoy the experience and don’t forget to vote for your favourite work in the Act-Belong-Commit People’s Choice Award.

School visits

Self-guided school visits are available for Pulse Perspectives. Due to the redevelopment works, guided tours and workshops are not available. Bookings are essential and can be made via educate@artgallery.wa.gov.au.

For all school visits, AGWA reception staff will assist with checking bags and directing groups to the exhibition. Space is at a premium, so we ask that you limit the amount of bags brought to the Gallery. 

Rooftop redevelopment

The Gallery's newest space – bringing art and entertainment together against Perth's beautiful city skyline. AGWA's rooftop redevelopment will open up a whole new space for enjoying arts and entertainment in WA. You can find out more about the rooftop redevelopment here.

Act-Belong-Commit People's Choice Award

Lily Kellahan has been announced as this year’s winner of the Pulse Perspectives Act-Belong-Commit People's Choice Award with the work titled Impressionable. Lily's work was chosen by members of the general public from the 30 finalists featured in this year’s exhibition. As part of the Award, Lily receives a $100 Gallery Shop voucher. The school Lily attended, Seton Catholic College, will receive an AGWA workshop and tour package.

Lily Kellahan Impressionable 2020
Lily Kellahan Impressionable 2020
oil on MDF, two parts: 90 x 120 cm each
Seton Catholic College
Photo: Luke Riley

 

Artist Statement: "I have aimed to encapsulate the way in which children, from birth, through childhood, and consequently into adulthood, are the subject of racial differentiation, and in cases of minorities, forms of subjugation; owing to the outdated systems and structures throughout society, and the prejudices these create. My choice to depict children with their mouths “cut-off” at the bottom of the works was deliberate, as I intended to comment on the voicelessness of the young."

Lily Kellahan participated in AGWA Learning's Meet the Artist series, which returned in 2021 after a successful pilot series. You can read Lily's thoughts and insights here.

Jessica Walsh Mirage 2020
Jessica Walsh Mirage 2020
oil on board, 110.5 x 110.5 cm
Seton Catholic College

Packers' Prize Winner

AGWA's Installation team commented on Jessica Walsh's Mirage 2020:

"The circular format of this work invites us to view her subject as though through a microscope to an individual in a blurred and jarring world. A well-chosen range of tones in the brushwork adds to the unsettling sensation and immediately delivers a giddiness, yet we want to go back for more."

They also noted the work Louis in Suburbia I, II and III by Michelle Edward as a highly commended.

Artist Statement: The fragility of a woman's self-perception and the perspective in which the female figure is viewed within society are constructs that I find vital to explore due to my first-hand experience of both. I considered both sides of the criterion, input by society where a woman's face is often hidden to objectify her and place focus on her body, and as seen in this work, when her face is shown it is only through a filter of corruption in which her emotions, thoughts and words are blurred into confusion.

Pulse Peer Award

Last year, the Gallery introduced the Pulse Peer Award supported by Act-Belong-Commit. This award was open for all Pulse Perspectives submitting artists to vote for the work that resonated with them the most from the 30 chosen finalists. Mia Patroni from St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls and Sarah Raphael from Willetton Senior High School have been announced as this year’s winners, with both receiving equal number of votes for their work titled Urban anatomy and Both sides now. Each will be awarded a $250 Jackson's Drawing Supplies voucher. Sarah also participated in the Meet the Artist series, view her process here.

Catalogue 

View this year's exhibition publication. 

Principal Partner

 Act Belong Commit logo    healthway logo

 

Education Partners

Department of Education logo      Catholic Education logo

 

On Saturday 27 August, the Gallery is open 10am-3pm only as we prepare for the AGWA Foundation Gala supporting women in the arts. Some exhibition access will be disrupted with two Tracks We Share ground floor galleries closed. AGWA Rooftop bar will be closed, reopening at 2pm Sunday. Details