This Friday — “LAST SEEN”, a powerful world-first project will be launched in Brisbane
If you lost your sight, could you describe the last thing you ever saw?
On Friday this week, LAST SEEN, a world-first project will be launched where seeing artists create artworks of memories of vision-impaired Australians. Three artworks will be unveiled with the artists and vision-impaired Australians present (see below).
The full exhibition opens in April. It’s the only known project of its kind in the world, where the memories form an art exhibition and performance. It is set to be one of the most personal and emotional creative showcases this year, and it’s only in Brisbane.
This Friday, three artworks will be unveiled for the first time.
ARTWORK TITLE: FAITH
Katie Kelly OAM PLY is one of Australia’s most distinguished, gold medalling Para-triathletes. Born with profound hearing loss, specialists did not diagnose her full condition Usher Syndrome until, at age 22, she started to lose her sight. Her last seen memory is the Merewether Baths in Newcastle.
The Artist — Tracie Eaton is an internationally renowned artist based on the Gold Coast. She’s recognised by the Global Art Agency as one of the ‘Leading & Investable Contemporary Artists’ worldwide and had an exclusive 3-year commission to create artwork for the Oscars, with Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bradley Cooper, and Tom Hanks now owning her art.
ARTWORK TITLE: OLIVER’S VIEW
14-year-old Oliver Fanshawe is the youngest person in Australia to receive a Seeing Eye Dog, Sadie. He was diagnosed with the eye condition Peters Anomaly at just nine days old. A keen athlete—he toured India as a batter with the Australian squad at the 2022 T20 Blind Cricket World Cup and is also the national junior champion for blind tennis. His last memorable image is of the Grand Canyon.
The Artist — Gary Myer’s art is immediately identifiable in Australia, with a deep connection to the outback landscape. He’s held over 45 solo exhibitions and is shown in galleries across the country.
ARTWORK TITLE: MOUNTAINS IN THE SUN
Lorin Nicholson OAM is a highly regarded international motivational speaker; he’s also legally blind as a result of a genetic eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa which began when he was 4. He has an Order of Australia Medal, is an Australian of the Year nominee, a Queensland service award recipient and was a Baton bearer for the 2018 Queens Baton Relay.
The Artist — Robert Brownhall is a famed realist painter, with a unique, quirky style and a birds-eye view of scenes, characterised by a strong connection to place.
The 2023 Last Seen celebration will run over two weeks in April at the Grey St Gallery, Griffith University South Bank. The Last Seen Performance will be presented by the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University on the 21st of April.
The Queensland Eye Institute Foundation is the state’s largest independent academic research institute devoted to eye-related health and diseases. The Foundation’s mission is to reduce eye disease, improve eye health, and ultimately eliminate preventable blindness in the community. Proceeds from the project help the Foundation continue its research to save sight.