People’s Choice Award

For each Exhibition, visitors are provided with the opportunity to nominate their favourite pieces of student work. An online voting system enables the most popular item to be selected and awarded the “People’s Choice Award”. The student that produces the winning art work is presented with a prize and their award is acknowledged on our website and in social media posts.

This artwork was created to inspire the audience to appreciate their own beauty and love all their flaws because that is what makes them unique and shows their strength. When you look at yourself in the mirror most of the time the first thing you notice is the flaws, not the beauty, not the journey and not the strength. Being brought up in a society where huge beauty standards swing over our head, it leaves us to over analyse every flaw. We feel exhausted and defeated trying to meet the criteria. 

But why are these considered flaws? 
Acne is natural. 
Blemishes are natural. 
Discolouration is natural and imperfections make us who we truly are. 

Embracing natural beauty should never be seen as someone being “brave.” We each should be comfortable without the façade. The real, the natural and the authentic you. I created a self portrait that depicts my own struggles of my own journey, proving to not only myself but also the viewers that your uniqueness and “flaws” need to be appreciated. This artwork urges viewers to bring more self-acceptance into their lives. Highlighting that the flowers that blossom on your face bring out the beauty in society’s insecurities.

Emily Puopolo
Emmanuel College

Many people often say that eyes are the window to the soul. This conviction was the driving force for me to follow realism portraiture. Without any words or speech, a person’s face is what engages people the most, with expressions of many emotions. As Anh Do put it, ‘I paint portraits because I’m interested by people, their dreams, desires, regrets, their sadness’.
 
When beginning to select a reference for own portraiture work, actor Chadwick Boseman had recently passed away from cancer at the age of 43 and shook not only the entertainment industry but the entire world. Boseman’s work had been an inspiration for so many people of colour and was a symbol for equality and representation, especially with ‘BLM’. With tributes pouring in, one resonated with me, a cast member stated that people could always read Boseman’s performance within his eyes. 
 
Having this piece along with so many unique and creative pieces from the ACC schools is an incredible experience for the talents of these students to be shared and appreciated with the wider community, something which I hope continues with more opportunities. I’m very appreciative of the recognition with the artwork being selected as the People’s Choice Award and I hope that everyone takes away a different meaning when they look into his eyes in the artwork and reflect on the lasting touch Chadwick Boseman still holds today.
 
Emmett McCann
De La Salle College

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