The art of connection at LCI Melbourne

‘Experiments in connectedness’ was a free workshop to interrogate the essence of the LCI Melbourne experience; how people connect with creativity, with the world around them, and with each other.

“LCI Melbourne is all about connections. Of our staff and students, our students and their peers, our campus and others in the LCI Education Network, our graduates, and the jobs that they desire. Connection creates opportunity,” LCI Melbourne Creative Projects Director, Michael Peck said. 

“We don’t just want to represent the creativity and ability of our students, we want to unleash it on the world, without filtering or editing. The workshop was another opportunity for our students to be part of activating our visual identity, by creating work that represent them, each other, and all of us.” 

In the first session, led by LCI Melbourne short course instructor and acclaimed Japanese calligraphy and landscape artist, Junko Azukawa, students were presented with a wide selection of Japanese brushes, ink and canvases of rice paper and linen. Junko led them through the process of discovering surface and material design; exploring the opportunities for mark marking and connectedness.

The traditional Japanese techniques challenged the students to find unique strokes and rhythms, resulting in thought-provoking pieces and more than a few ink-stained hands.

“The workshop was really good challenge! I watched Junko demonstrate the brushstrokes and she made it look so easy, but my first attempts were not so such a success! Junko really helped me with technique and by the end of the workshop I felt really confident,” second year Visual Arts student, Santiago Lozano said. 

Working on large swathes of linen, students designed patterns together, which were then used in the second session: form and fashion. Using the fabric, students created wearable art forms. Bringing their surface designs to life, Cathleen tutored the students on how to drape the material, turning two dimensions in to three, with a flick of the wrist, and a well placed pin here and there. She was struck by the beauty of the original and gestural textile design.

Through ‘Experiments in connectedness’, students participated in a cross disciplinary creative process, from planning and visualisation, to creation and execution. The workshop was part of a core approach for LCI Melbourne to connect students with designers, artists and forms of expression, with each other, and with inspiration and techniques from around the world.  

How do you connect with Melbourne and the rest of the world? To the people around you? To art and design and fashion? Discover how to get connected, with LCI Melbourne. 

Apply now for a place in Trimester 1, 2019.

Start your journey with LCI Melbourne.