We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands upon which our campus is situated, the people of the Boon Wurrung and Woi Wurrung, who have created art, made music and told their stories here for thousands of generations. We also acknowledge and extend our respect to the Traditional Owners of all lands on which our work is viewed, shared and enjoyed, and to all Elders, past, present and emerging.

VCA Art 2024

Master of Contemporary Art

 is a site-responsive installation made from salvaged polystyrene, dissolved, pigmented and cast using handmade clay molds. The panels, connected by cable ties, symbolise the destructive cycle of capitalism, waste and environmental degradation. Polystyrene, a ubiquitous and toxic material, embodies both the organic origins of fossil fuels and the synthetic reality of modern production. Through scale and repetition, Drape explores the psychological and physical effects of consumerism, revealing the pervasive presence of plastics in our environment and bodies.


The hanging, chainmail-like structure of Drape contrasts architectural and bodily elements, blending organic and synthetic forms to reflect the deep entanglement of human life with the non-human world. As the work hangs from the ceiling, it becomes useless and contemplative, symbolising the loss of individual agency in an era defined by ecological crisis. Through this, Drape calls for mutual aid, the development of survival strategies, and a shift in how we consider our relationship to the environment.


Kelly Manning

Kelly Manning, Installation View. Image Courtesy of University of Melbourne.

'Drape'
Polystyrene, pigment and cable ties
2024. Image courtesy of Matto Lucas