16 Feb, 2018

2018 Helpmann Graduate Exhibition City of Adelaide Award winner announced

University of South Australia graduate Yusuf Hayat was last night awarded the City of Adelaide Award, as part of the Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition 2018, for his work, Mashrabiya.

Earlier this week Hayat was also awarded the British School At Rome (BSR) Residency, an opportunity for an emerging South Australian visual artist to undertake a three-month residency at BSR, Britain’s leading humanities research institute abroad and one of the most prestigious foreign academies in the Italian capital.

Yusuf Hayat is a practising artist who has studied at the University of Leicester, UK before spending three years teaching English in Japan, Italy and Ecuador. Hayat has since embarked on careers in visual arts and human services. Hayat is committed to social justice and has worked in leadership roles for several international non-government organisations.

His work integrates symbols of Australian nationalism and European colonialism with elements of Islamic art, architecture and design, to comment on hybrid diaspora identities and cosmopolitan aspirations.

Hayat uses architectural features such as pillars and lattice designs in his practice as metaphors for transcultural communication. His recent work encompasses photographic, painting and architectural approaches to sculptural form.

City of Adelaide Deputy Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said, “The City of Adelaide is committed to developing Adelaide as a premier international arts market by creating opportunities for emerging and developing cultural practitioners to be seen and to thrive.

“The Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition has an established reputation as the showcase exhibition of South Australia’s most promising emerging artists.

“Partnering with the Helpmann Academy for this award enables the work of an emerging artist to be showcased through the City of Adelaide’s Contemporary Acquisitions Collection, giving them important exposure, along with a cash prize.”

City of Adelaide Director, Community, Clare Mockler, presented the award last night.

“I would like to congratulate Yusuf on being selected for the City of Adelaide Award and I look forward to seeing his work displayed at Adelaide Town Hall.”

For the 2018 Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition, a curatorial mentorship was established with the City of Adelaide to assist emerging curator Saskia Scott (Gallery Coordinator, Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation) to gain knowledge and skills through an active learning program paired with mentor, Logan Macdonald, Public Art Planner, City of Adelaide.

This professional development opportunity allowed the mentee to develop and help the Helpmann Academy Graduate exhibition under guidance. The emerging curator gains experience in all aspects of developing a major exhibition and producing an exhibition catalogue.

This professional development opportunity reflects the City of Adelaide’s aspiration to develop and strengthen partnerships and build Adelaide’s creative cultural reputation.

Jane MacFarlane, Helpmann Academy CEO said that for an emerging artist, being added to the City of Adelaide’s Contemporary Acquisitions Collection was a huge achievement.

“We are thrilled to be working with the City of Adelaide to present this prestigious new award, as well as offering Saskia Scott a valuable professional development opportunity to work under the mentorship of Logan Macdonald.”

The Helpmann Graduate exhibition runs from Friday 16 February to Sunday 11 March, at the Drill Hall, Torrens Parade Ground, Victoria Drive, Adelaide

Paula Stevens