Grant High School Year 12 student Sophie Couldrey has won the Australian Education Union (AEU) SACE Art Show Award, winning $250 for her work “Touched”.
There were nine winners in different categories with more than 200 entries, with Miss Couldrey being one of two from Mount Gambier.
This year the SACE Art Show was held as a COVID-safe exhibition at the Light Square Gallery for a month from March 22-April 22.
It was both a physical event and a virtual online gallery for those who could not attend.
Miss Couldrey said she was surprised to win because she had not seen any of the other entries as her parents transported the artwork from Mount Gambier to Adelaide.
Miss Couldrey said from the start she wanted to create something that looked pretty but had a hidden meaning.
“My piece represents the Nanjing Massacre which was a battle at the start of World War II where Japan invaded China under the instruction to kill everyone including women and children,” she said.
“There are stories that denied what happened so the main sculpture is all in metal representing Japanese troops while the smaller part was embroidered to convey a false sense of softness and innocence.
“I would like to thank my art teacher Priya Ziakas who encouraged me to participate in the competition and organised my entry.
“Both my parents are artistic, so I have always been interested in art.”
Miss Couldrey has followed her passion for art, currently undertaking a graphic design and administration apprenticeship at Highland Fox while still completing Year 12.
