This year’s exhibition celebrates 30 years and features 49 works by 2021 Year 12 Visual Arts graduates from 32 schools across WA.
In another landmark celebration, 2022 sees The West Australian come on board as the exhibition's major sponsor and a renaming to The West Australian Pulse.
The works were selected by a judging panel including Isobel Wise, Associate Curator Australian and Western Australian Art Post 1970; Celene Bridge, WA Artist and Lisa Bowden, Principal Consultant – Visual Arts, SCSA.
This year The West Australian Pulse exhibitors explore themes of mental health and social pressures, environmentalism and human impact, connection, meaning and memory.
From the inception of the exhibition in the early 1990s, the public showed immense support and enthusiasm for the work of graduating students and the popularity of the exhibition quickly grew. The selected works in what was known as Year 12 Perspectives have always been chosen on merit, creativity and individuality, not on the top marks of that year, and have presented an interesting mix of the finalists’ good technique, original ideas and creative interpretation.
Looking back at 30 years of Pulse highlights how artistic style has developed over time. It is also a moment to reflect on how the social concerns of young people have progressed or shifted. In this way, we can recognise issues that stand alone or themes which connect across time.
Each year the selected works provide a window into young people’s private, social and artistic concerns. The exhibition is an inspiring, rewarding and insightful look at the world through the minds of our most talented young artists.