A Year 12 visual art student from a Sunshine Coast college will have his work displayed internationally after being recognised in a prestigious art competition.
Luca Buttrose from Pacific Lutheran College received an honourable mention award in the Speculative Futures Digital Arts Student Competition for 2024.
His was one of 96 entries from 16 different countries entered into the inaugural student competition, which focuses on speculative futures and encourages students to explore futuristic themes.
His work will be exhibited at the 29th International Symposium on Electronic Arts 2024 in Brisbane later this month and SIGGRAPH 2024 in Denver in July and August, as well as on the ACM SIGGRAPH Digital Arts Committee website.
“I am extremely honoured to have received this internationally recognised award,” Luca said.
“I have enjoyed the process of integrating technology and science into my visual arts work to digitally reproduce, manipulate and distort a lotus cell using the procedural software TouchDesigner to convey to audiences the evolving, disruptive relationship between humans and nature.”
Pacific Lutheran College design and art teacher Marnie Whittaker explained his work in more detail.
“Luca’s single digital image taken using an iPhone camera down a microscope was manipulated to three images, using digital tools and enhanced with sound to engage with contemporary audiences,” she said.
“When each image is printed singularly the three images are linked to AR and, using the Artivive app, audiences unlock the fluidity of the cellular structures.”
PLC head of visual arts Elise Black paid tribute to Luca’s creations.
“Luca has consistently shown student agency in his visual arts practice by integrating his interests across disciplines such as digital technologies, science and visual arts,” she said.
“His disposition of being a curious learner has led him to go beyond the realms of the classroom to be recognised in a tertiary level of competition.
“In response to the increasing integration of digital technologies and art in the 21st century, our 2024 arts programs have fully embraced the integration of technology, including augmented reality, into the visual arts curriculum.”
College principal Dr Bronwyn Dolling also congratulated Luca for his work.
“This was an outstanding achievement for Luca in an extremely competitive competition,” she said.
“The college community looks forward to Luca’s work being represented in the exhibition.”
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