Online art show shines spotlight on Swinburne students

Diploma of Visual Arts Ellen Giannikos, pictured in her studio, is one of the artists who was selected for Manifest.
In summary
- Swinburne students from across visual arts, photography and graphic design have been selected for a new online art show
- The show, called Manifest, is being put on by the MAD (mad!) Network of 11 TAFEs across Victoria who teach in media, arts and design fields
- The exhibition is free and available to view until September 2021
Creative works by more than 20 Swinburne students have been selected for an online art exhibition celebrating work completed across Victoria in the 2020 lockdowns.
The exhibition, entitled Manifest, has been brought to life virtually utilising the Adobe Creative Suite and incorporates works across visual arts, photography, illustration and graphic design. Works were selected from students at 11 TAFEs across Victoria who teach in the media, arts and design fields and make up the MAD (mad!) network.
Larry Parkinson, coordinator of the Diploma of Visual Art at Swinburne and member of the mad! Executive Committee, says the event speaks to the creative resilience of his students.
‘This exhibition is really about celebrating the achievements of our students during a challenging time for the arts industry, and for many of our students and staff,’ he says.
‘The name “manifest” is all about that idea of making something great happen. It’s about imagining something, striving for it and bringing it into reality.’

Shouldered, Bundle and Boy - Ellen Giannikos, 2020
Making art in lockdown
Ellen Giannikos is one of the Swinburne students whose work was selected for Manifest. She says her exhibited works represent many of the creative approaches, techniques and inspirations she explored while studying the Diploma of Visual Arts.
Her three works span a variety of styles, including one that made use of Swinburne’s printmaking facilities and another showcasing a newfound love of acrylics. They are united by an exploration of humans’ relationship with nature.
“The works were inspired by traditional folklore and fairy tales, where animals often act as representatives to teach a moral lesson,” she says. “I was also really focused on natural textures and colours, which was something different for me.”

Courtney Koop, who studied an Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design, is exhibiting a design mark she created for a sustainability-focused meal kit company that embodies the natural and accessible nature of the product. Also on display is packaging she designed for a healthy lunchbox snack that can turn into a toy once kids have finished eating it.
Koop, who hopes to have her own design studio in the future, says the pandemic was a challenge but offered some useful lessons. ‘It taught me how to manage my time and work from home, which will be a valuable skill for me in this line of work,’ she said.
Giannikos says studying at Swinburne helped her get through 2020. ‘I was very lucky to have my studies. It gave me something to do every day and kept me focused on something I love.’
Creative careers
Both students are continuing creative careers and education. Koop is advancing her studies at Swinburne, undertaking a Bachelor of Design, majoring in Communication Design. Giannikos operates a studio with her partner, teaching art to adults and children with disabilities, as well as producing her own work.
Parkinson says that the artworks are a testament to the hard work and creativity of his students in a challenging year. “It was great to see the response from our students. The works really demonstrate the consistent effort, maturity and deep interest that they have in their chosen fields.”
Manifest can be viewed online until the end of September 2021.
-
Media Enquiries
Related articles
-
- Business
Swinburne alum and global HR leader unlocking people’s ‘inner hero’
Anoop Chaudhuri’s career with Ford has spanned more than thirty years, three continents and 14 roles. He now leads HR for Ford and is passionate about helping individuals and teams thrive.
Thursday 21 September 2023 -
- Film and television
- Student News
N’Ouiblez Jamais: a student film on the lived experiences of WWII
Produced by three Swinburne Film and TV students, French documentary film N’Oubilez Jamais is about the experiences of a young Jewish woman during WWII.
Friday 01 September 2023 -
- Design
Destination Korea: An industry-linked study tour
Industrial Design and Product Design Engineering students spent three weeks in Seoul, Korea, as part of a new industry-linked, culturally immersive study tour.
Tuesday 12 September 2023 -
- Student News
Swinburne alum enables ten inaugural study abroad scholarships
The Giles Family Foundation Semester Exchange Grant provides generous financial support for students to study overseas for a semester, inspired by alum Michael Giles’ own study abroad experiences.
Monday 21 August 2023 -
- Student News
- University
next gen_campus Listening Posts draw Swinburne students into co-creation process
Swinburne’s next gen_campus team set up weekly Listening Post for students to engage in revitalisation of our campuses
Monday 21 August 2023