The West Australian Pulse 2022 judge Celene E. Bridge overwhelmed by young talent

After having her intricate hand-made silk dress feature in the 2006 exhibition, Perth artist Celene E. Bridge says being a judge for The West Australian Pulse 2022, opening at the Art Gallery of WA on April 20, is “an honour and a pleasure”.

Now a painter whose work has made the semi-final of the 2020 Lester Prize at AGWA as well as the finals of national awards, Ms Bridge said “just seeing the skill and the thought behind the work” of Year 12 students “was really quite special”.

“I was blown away,” she added. “The skill level is really, really high.”

The Penrhos College graduate, who completed a Bachelor of Arts in fashion and textile design from Curtin University, added that “life just seems so much more complex for young people these days” due to social media, technology and the pandemic.

“Having that outlet of art to express these concepts, and what’s going on in their lives and the lives of their friends and family, is very important,” Ms Bridge said.

Due to COVID restrictions and to also open the event up to schools in every part of WA, judging for Pulse 2022 was conducted entirely online for the first time.

Ms Bridge was part of a small panel that assessed Year 12 works on three key areas: creativity and innovation; communication of ideas; and application of skill and processes.

Pruning around 300 entries down to the final 49 from 32 high schools was “definitely an overwhelming process”, she said.

“It took a lot longer than I thought it would and required a lot of your attention,” Ms Bridge explained. “Giving that time to each student and each work was important.

“For me, I was looking for skill and the meaning behind the paintings.”

Ms Bridge’s own work, The Widow, was a painstakingly made long silk gown with intricate calico swallows flying up the train towards a corset.

I was blown away. The skill level is really, really high.

“It was a lot of work,” she said, adding that having had her dress exhibit at AGWA still felt special 16 years later.

“Having your work in that space is incredible.”

After exhibiting in the national graduate showcase at the 2011 L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, Ms Bridge has turned from fashion and textiles to dream-like paintings populated by ethereal figures and exotic animals.

In 2020, her artist residency at Chateau d’Orquevaux in the champagne region of France was postponed due to COVID.

The West Australian Pulse 2022 is at the Art Gallery of WA from April 20 to July 24.