On Wednesday 19 June, Newington was host to Asian-Australian artist Ah Xian and leading Asian Art curator  Aaron Seeto at the second Men and the Arts Forum for 2013. The Men and the Arts Forum is a great way for boys, parents and teachers of the Newington Community to experience something that they normally would not experience – a stimulating, intellectual discussion on a Creative Arts subject area. Newington is incredibly lucky to host these professional artists for one night of intense creative dialogue.

Mr Seeto specialises in curating contemporary Asian art and recounted his life story of how he progressed from interning as a gallery supervisor to becoming a curator at 4A Contemporary Asian Art Centre, a place now specialising in and working with Asian artwork and artists. In the early 2000‘s, Mr Seeto said that Mr Xian made an extensive impact in contemporary Australasian art with his works at a time when Asian art was decreasing in popularity.

From here on, Mr Xian then spoke about his profession, and what processes, tools and methods he uses in the production of his art. He is very much a traditional artist, drawing his inspiration from Chinese art and culture. What strikes you most is his attraction to the female body. Much of his artwork explores this figure in many different settings and positions, such as crouching, kneeling, standing in a cage, squatting under a small cover, or just in the open as a freestanding figure. What was especially interesting was observing how the art itself was produced, from preconception to finishing touches. In 2009, he won the Clemenger Contemporary Art Award.

The boys were riveted with the two artists’ conversations on their professional life, artwork, and  creativity in a world that values visual arts in the same way it did in the past. Overall, the Forum gave a great example of what it was like to be a modern day artist and a member of the creative community.

The next two forums will focus on Drama – Wednesday 4 September, and Music – Wednesday 23 October. Even if you feel you haven’t got a single creative bone in your body, the variety of topics being presented will get you thinking critically about Creative Arts as not only a chosen profession, but as an active lifestyle that one can love and enjoy every moment of.

John Keene (11/JN)