2025: Hannah Postlethwaite

"What I've learnt about art so far: The medium and topic go hand in hand. This relates well to my sculptures this year: Personification of mental stress.

These sculptures relate to an accident I had on my bike; being hit by a car and being hospitalised. As a result I learnt a whole lot more about… LIFE and scored some badass scars! This weird traumatic scenario changed my body and this trauma now sits as a physical history.

What if I used my leftover compression gloves, plasters and other medical things as materials for creating gruesome extensions of the body. In some way like a Teratoma to show what mental stress is as some almost living, weird uncomfortable THING. To extend this idea beyond myself I'm also using other “taboo” materials that could hold and show trauma. Bras, underwear or hair. Looking at that material, how is it treated or looked upon, and how do those emotions look physically?

This main work sits on Luke Francis’s back, heavy and leaving you in an uncomfortable position to hold for a long time. 

In 2026 I’ll be attending University of Canterbury studying Fine Arts. I chose this university for its renowned technical art teaching. I want to learn and improve my artistic skills. Learn about other artists, artistic movements, the way art can influence and be influenced by the times we live in: the zeitgeist.

I want my art to be impactful, help environmental changes, be political, peaceful and of course, nonsensical."