Sensations of Art Making: Triumphs, Torments and Risk-taking

‘Sensations of Art-making: Triumphs, Torments, and Risk-taking’ is an exhibition curated by Purnima Ruanglertbutr. It documents a collection of works by professional artist-teachers who are graduates of Melbourne University’s Master of Teaching (Secondary Art) program. The exhibited works demand attention as they illustrate with sensitivity the triumphs, torments, and risk-taking inherent in professional artistic practice.

These artists are navigating the challenging path of moving into the world of teaching while preserving their artist identity. Some are yet to make that transition, while others are already immersed in the world of teaching. Their reality reflects the conflict between art production and teaching, seemingly incompatible worlds. Through this exhibition, they explore ways to keep their passion for art alive while nurturing a teaching career.

This catalogue features the work of early-career visual art educators and insightful commentaries by the artist-teachers themselves, created during those critical first years after teacher training. Some artworks explicitly address the role of art making in teaching, while others focus on developing a private professional practice. These pieces provide valuable insights into the elusive phenomenon of the ‘artist-teacher.’