Grace Atherton
Footscray High School, Footscray
Wurundjeri Country
The Light
Picture Book
The Light is centred on a child named Bailey and their struggle to experience self-empowerment. This is expressed through the analogy of the electricity in the house turning off and on. I wanted to explore insecurity and uncertainty through this young character, as I believe the struggle for self-confidence is part of being human and is relatable across all ages and identities. The illustrative style combines simplicity with dramatised light and colour to evoke a pensive atmosphere and encourage readers to reflect on their inner power.
Jack Maliszewski
Padua College, Mornington
Bunurong Country
Trying Again
Graphic Novel
Trying Again is a graphic novel that pays respect to the format and characteristics of manga. The narrative is a short story about why media is so important to our culture and understandings. My graphic novel portrays a world in which all media is heavily controlled and creativity, storytelling and idea-sharing no longer exist. The protagonists of the story attempt to bring creative autonomy back.
Kim Xuyen Quinton
Parkdale Secondary College, Mordialloc
Bunurong Country
Auspicious
Graphic Novel
Auspicious is a coming-of-age graphic novel that explores anxieties about entering adulthood. Following the protagonist Jax Payne, we watch as they undergo the final months of high school, face hardships and form a relationship with the mysterious character Buffy. Inspired by creatives such as Wes Anderson and Hayao Miyazaki, I aimed to depict universal experiences through the lens of unconventional characters to create a visually and structurally captivating world.
Megan Tran
Yarra Valley Grammar, Ringwood
Wurundjeri Country
One Day With Grandma
Story Book
My illustrated story book, One Day with Grandma, examines love as a delicate, moving emotion that connects one person to another and centres the bond between grandparents and their grandchildren. My own family served as my primary source of inspiration, as I was fascinated by our daily interactions and engagements. Through my expressive illustrations and narrative, I aimed to encourage parents and children to find emotional resonance, for children to value their grandparents and the warmth of family affection, and for adults to respect their children’s needs rather than imposing their own.
Emily Widjaja
Geelong Grammar School, Corio
Wadawurrung Country
i'm [not] okay
Zine
i’m [not] okay is a mixed media zine that discusses the suppression of emotions. Focusing on young women’s experiences with this topic, the zine includes a collection of five individual reflections. These are presented through texts describing the models’ personal thoughts and emotions. The portraits included use mixed media techniques, such as image transfers and torn paper collage. With the use of tracing paper in my final product, I intended to create a layered narrative for my audience. As they flick through each model’s individual section, the viewer comes closer to unravelling the model’s pure emotional state that might otherwise be disguised.
