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Meet the artist

Elias Raptis , Peace Foundation SACE Art Show Award recipient.

How do you feel to be an award winner at the 2020 SACE Art Show?

It is an honour to be the recipient of the Peace Foundation award – I am incredibly grateful to my teacher, parents and those who helped me along the way imparting advice and knowledge to help me on my learning journey.

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What was the inspiration behind your work?

I am interested in telling the victims of war stories via abstract artworks. War crimes and genocide interest me because of the lasting impacts on society. Lasting impacts include loss of community, destruction of family and lasting pain and sorrow for the survivors, i.e. post-war trauma. I am fascinated by modern history, in particular the history of recent war and atrocities. My journey was aimed to help me better understand how these events have come to exist. How can humanity allow these things to happen?

Tell us about the creative process you took with your work?

I was inspired by an array of artists including; Picasso, Willem De Kooning, Francisco Goya, Henri Matisse and Australian war artist George Gittoes. I synthesised their methods and styles to create an artwork which responded to my topic: The Depiction of the Atrocities of War; Such as Genocide and War Crimes, Via Abstract Artworks.

What advice would you have to Stage 2 Visual Arts students in 2020?

My three key pieces of advice are; listen to your mentors as their guidance is crucial to your success; consider your format and structure of your folio, and visual study, as (in my opinion) moderators mark with their eyes first. Lots of practical work will also help you to seek clarity in a resolved final work.

What pathway are you taking after your SACE – university/TAFE/jobs?

As of 2020, I currently study a Bachelor of International Relations at The Australian National University, Canberra. I hope soon to combine this degree with Laws (Hons).