Selective Attention, national acclaim
- 15 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Amadeia D'Souza, an already award-winning artist in Year 11, has been selected as a finalist in The Arts House Trust National Secondary School Art Awards.
The competition attracted entries from more than 100 secondary schools across New Zealand, with only 75 finalists chosen. We are incredibly proud that Amadeia's work has been recognised among such a talented field of young artists.
Amadeia's painting, Selective Attention, will be exhibited at Pah Homestead in Hillsborough from 10 September to 18 October, alongside the work of other finalists from across the country.
Renowned New Zealand artist Judy Darragh will serve as guest judge alongside The Arts House Trust curatorial team, and visitors will also have the opportunity to vote for a People's Choice Award.
The Artwork In in Amadeia's words:
In my painting "Selective Attention", a man stands beside a wall covered in posters warning of issues such as war, environmental destruction and inequality. He casually smokes beneath a ‘No Smoking’ sign, ignoring both the warning beside him and the serious issues surrounding him.
The painting explores how people can become desensitised to real-world problems, particularly when they feel overwhelming or beyond their control. The cigarette symbolises humanity’s selective attention, while the wall represents the seemingly endless challenges facing society. The man represents those who recognise these issues but choose not to act, or who may even contribute to making them worse.
I started this painting a little while ago, because as a student, there’s not much I can do about the problems of the world but at least I can raise awareness and stand up for what I believe is right.
