SETU Arts students presented Hidden Side at Westgate Heritage Arts Centre, an exhibition that highlighted bold ideas, experimentation and the process behind each artwork.
Third-year SETU Bachelor of Arts in Art students conceived, curated, and installed the show bringing together painting, sculpture, installation, and video to explore the personal layers that often went unseen.
The exhibition reflected a wide range of artistic approaches and materials connected by a shared interest emotionally, psychologically, and creatively. Visitors were invited to engage with works that revealed moments of vulnerability, experimentation, and self-discovery.
Exploring personal and creative layers
Hidden Side examined the idea that everyone carried aspects of themselves that were rarely visible. Each participating artist responded to this theme in their own way, drawing on personal experiences, memories, and internal dialogues developed throughout their artistic journey.
Some works gave subtle hints of what was hidden using texture, shape or empty space to suggest deeper meaning. Others were more direct, showing bold images or immersive installations. Together, these works made a layered exhibition that rewarded close observation and reflection.
A space shaped by energy and collaboration
Westgate Heritage Arts Centre provided a striking backdrop with the artworks engaging the space, while the exhibition showed creativity, collaboration, and experimentation. Students gained valuable experience beyond studio practice from curatorial decision-making to spatial planning and public presentation. This hands-on approach strengthened their connection between education and professional artistic practice.
Emerging voices
The exhibition provided an opportunity to encounter the next generation of the future artists. It celebrated not only finished works but also the process of growth and transition that defined this stage of artistic development.
This invited to step inside, slow down and consider the stories that exist beyond what is immediately visible revealing the quiet complexity that shapes both art and artist.
