Winning art against ableism

A FAMILIAL influence formed the subject for a winning work in the 2022 Young Archie competition.

Local artist Jasmine Goon took the top prize in the 16 to 18-year-old category for her piece, And who shaped you?

The work depicts Jasmine’s non-verbal brother, Kevin, who she said has been a long-time influence on her art.

Still, she said the ideas behind her pencil and gel-pen piece go beyond just admiration of her sibling.

“My art is to convey and advocate for a message towards families with neurodivergent members and how we should be embracing that instead of being ashamed,” she said.

“It feels really rewarding but surreal at the same time to win the award. I’m extremely privileged to receive it and to have my truth be recognised.

“Ableism is a theme I would like to keep exploring because it’s so prevalent for my generation and society.”

A student at Ballarat High School, Jasmine has been developing her art since she was five and said she has had no formal training for her craft.

Her winning work was completed over eight to 10 hours and is her first entry into the Young Archie competition.

Jasmine’s previous accomplishments include winning the Ballarat Children’s Art Award in 2015.

With plans to study fine arts at Melbourne’s RMIT University, Jasmine said her preferred style is in pencil sketching, which she said has been influenced by her brother’s own art.

“Kevin’s been creating art too in and out of school, and he’s taught me so much about observing detail and how it’s formed,” she said.

“He’s helped me in developing simple images and not overcomplicating things. I’ve noticed I add a lot less detail in the background now to emphasise the subject and better initiate the viewer’s connection.

“Someone actually compared the piece with the Mona Lisa, the initiation between the connection of the Mona Lisa’s staring with my brother’s.”