I've just returned from a trip to Melbourne, where I enjoyed a couple of weeks of fresh air, great food and perfect coffee. While I was away the dedicated Student Weekly team kept things ticking along nicely, with our Sub-Editor Gary doing a great job standing in as Editor.
I had a lot of fun in Melbourne. One of the definite highlights was attending a combined exhibition of renowned artists Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei at the National Gallery of Victoria. For those who don't know, Andy Warhol was an American artist who lived from 1928 to 1987, and in the 1950s and '60s was one of the pioneers of the pop art movement. Ai Weiwei is a Chinese artist, born in Beijing in 1957, who continues to create thought-provoking art that receives international recognition.
Although I admire the work of both artists, I wasn't quite sure what they had in common to justify the idea of a joint exhibition. Warhol's work was all about appreciating surface beauty in the mass produced and mundane, and despite a few provocative works was mostly apolitical. Ai Weiwei's work, on the other hand, is largely symbolic and political, dealing with issues such as government corruption and control, poverty, and what it means to be Chinese in the modern world.
It turned out that the similarities between the two that the exhibition highlighted were pretty superficial — both artists liked cats, Warhol visited China in the early '80s while Weiwei went to New York around the same time, both artists worked in large spaces with teams of helpers, etc. — but that didn't really matter. The exhibition was inspiring because it showed what amazing work people can create when they dedicate themselves to art and work at it constantly, despite often difficult circumstances. The work of both artists can make people see the world differently and think in new ways. Through mediums as varied as film, photography, sculpture and painting, both Warhol and Weiwei have created works that once seen can never be forgotten.
Seeing that exhibition reminded me of how important art is for a healthy, happy and thinking society. A great exhibition can be fun, thought-provoking and even life-changing, so if you have some spare time, get along to an art gallery and expand your mind.
Ben Edwards
Editor
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