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60 seconds with … Kent Wilson

11 June 2008

Name: Kent Wilson
Course: Bachelor Fine Art (Painting)
Year Level: Honours

What is it about your course and the University that helped you choose Monash?

The panel of assessors who reviewed my folio during my application interview were really passionate about art and the school. There is a strong desire to establish the school as a centre of research excellence -- this forward-thinking drive is an exciting aspect of the environment here.

What is your favourite subject and why?

Studio class is the engine room for fine arts and the most enjoyable aspect. The privilege of having allocated space to work in is extremely valuable. I didn't expect there to be a wonderful theory department that inspires a rigorous research approach to creating work. It proves to be a major influence on the work we actually produce.

What challenges are ahead for you this year?

For me the main objective is to refine my practice and to begin to establish myself as a professional artist. Doing all this while trying not to sink too deeply into any unrecoverable debt is also quite the challenge.

What will be your ideal career (and what will it involve) when you graduate?

My hope is to establish myself primarily as a studio artist which is no easy task in Australia. I'm also interested in pursuing academic avenues - lecturing and tutoring. Also as a founding and current member of O Projects Gallery, an artist-run initiative in Fitzroy, I am keen to develop its growth and establish it as a viable long-term organisation.

What is it about your course that holds your interest or is particularly satisfying?

For me, art is like a laboratory -- a place to experiment with ideas, develop ways of thinking and critically engaging with any aspect of the world. As a result I'm free to pursue any areas of interest and find creative ways of addressing the issues inherent in them. We're encouraged to follow our intuition provided we can support it with research. With the combination of the freedom of the studio and the intellectual engagement of theory I'm practically bursting with an enthusiasm to create.

What is your favourite place in the world and why?

I drove through Europe in a Kombi some years ago and loved the far south of Spain, the southern Alps of Austria and the western coast of Scotland. I would like to see the Americas and Berlin too. But I must say the rainforest region along the border of NSW and Queensland is the most magical place I have ever been.

What is the best piece of advice you have received?

Look to the right, look to the left, and then look to the right again. It's road safety for pedestrians but I've found it invaluable as general advice.

What is something about yourself that most of your fellow students wouldn't know?

In a past life I wrote the customer service procedures for Officeworks staff.