National Gallery of Victoria Triennial is a free exhibition which started from 15^th of December 2017 till 15^th of April 2018 celebrating the contemporary art and design practice that traverses all four levels of NGV international[1], as well as offering a rich array of programs. There is a large range of aspects been exhibited covering the art and design practices including animation, drawing, sculpture, film, architecture, painting and tapestry. The visitors would have the opportunity to look at the most creative minds in the world because the exhibition is featuring the work of over 100 artists and designers from 31 countries.
One of the artworks been exhibited is for a New Zealand based artist Kushana Bush. The work is combination of few pieces which is known as “Maybe The People” [2].

The artwork shows the highly attention to details in the characters and the elements involve, which is a very common practice in most of Bush’s works.  The artwork has been rendered painstakingly in gouache on paper, using a combination of Eastern and Westerns styles.  The work contains shadows, wind-blown fields grass, wispy clouds and waves.

The main interest point of this artwork that draws every single eye to it is the subject or the object that those people are worshipping, which on other hand is unclear and not always obvious. But what is clear, is the gathering of these many people around where  the artists personally thinks that the modern world  we live in lacks the joint activities  and ceremonies, Bush says “We are all looking for reasons to come together”.
There is a combination of natural elements appearing in the background of the artwork. This is often suffering at the hands of human being. The centre of the attention here is the hero who has many of them around his chest with one draped around his torso hanging down ready to behead. Next to that, five woman sitting inline next each other making the birds ready to go next.
The next artwork presents the hanging deer from its leg and dividing the crowd into two groups, one playing wooden flutes, the other jutting their tongues out in a hungry apprehension.

One of the aims of the NGV Triennial exhibition is to present the contemporary art practice. And Kushanna Bush considers herself a contemporary storyteller [3], which is often obvious through the highly detailed paintings that presents multiple-figure compositions often follows a narrative approach. She usually bases her art on different historical and stylistic origins.

According to the article “Transformation of the Aesthetic: Art as Participatory Design” there is a strong connection between art and design [4]. And the most significant metonym happens at the level of participatory of projects. It also argues that art in the context of participatory design offers political alternative to avant-garde tactic and the notion of voice or opinion; instead it offers the modification aspect of it [5].

Participatory systems are unique as it allows the audience to be involved in the process and completion of the work. Taking in consideration the artwork “Maybe the people”, it is work that’s open to the viewer’s interpretation. Every person would translate the artwork in their own way and link it to their desired characters in real life. Starting by the hero of the artwork and imagining the actions happening and continuing with the rest that follows to makes up a story out of it. Several works were exhibited at the NGV Triennial that prepared the atmosphere of participatory art and design. And was done by offering the facilities for the audience to get involve and shape themselves in it.

In conclusion, Kushanna Bush is trying to involve the participatory design through her contemporary storyteller artworks, by engaging the audience within the artwork and letting them dive into their imagination to create a live versions of her drawn characters and elements while looking at it. And making the title of the work questionable by saying “Maybe the people” referring that anybody’s interpretation could be true in regards of what’s happening in the story.

 

[1] “NGV Triennial | NGV”, Ngv.Vic.Gov.Au, last modified 2018, accessed April 13, 2018,
https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/ngv-triennial/

[2] kushanna Bush, Maybe the people, NGV, Melbourne

https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/ngv-triennial/

[3] NGV | View Work”, Ngv.Vic.Gov.Au, last modified 2018, accessed April 13, 2018,
https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/117223/

[4] Mathew Holt, ‘Transformation of the Aesthetic: Art as Participatory Design‘, Design and Culture, Vol. 7 No.2. 144.

[5] Ibid, 143