Family's special gift to honour their artist son

Aug 10, 2004

The family of former University of Wollongong Creative Arts doctoral student "Victor" Yang Sheng An, who tragically drowned while surfing at East Corrimal beach in December 2002, will make a special return to Wollongong tomorrow (August 11) to make a $10,000 contribution to the 'Victor Yang Memorial Art Prize'.

The prize has been instigated by the University's Postgraduate Association (WUPA) and supported by UOW's Office of Community and Partnerships.

The Head of UOW's School of Art and Design, Professor Amanda Lawson, said Victor was a very talented young artist who produced outstanding work including eastern and western art, porcelain glaze and ceramics, with much of his work being influenced by his love for the coastline and his surrounding environment.

He was particularly interested in aesthetics and his complete works demonstrated a mastery in the traditional genres of both Western and Chinese painting, she said.

The donation Victor's parents will make has been derived from funds raised from a series of concert performances and book sales in Victor's home country of Taiwan. Victor's parents, along with his brother and younger sisters, will tomorrow re-visit the places where Victor spent time living and studying. They will be joined by Mr Peter Lan and Ms Shirley Lin from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

While there will be painful memories for the family, Victor's father said he drew comfort from the fact that Victor's spirit will always live and that a strong connection between his family and Australia will continue.

Victor's father hopes that the donation he will present tomorrow will assist future young artists.

Time and venue for family's presentation: Council Room, Administration Building (Bldg 36) at 10.30am, Wednesday August 11. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerard Sutton, will be among guests attending.

For further information: contact Professor Amanda Lawson on 4221 4611, Associate Professor Diana Wood Conroy 4221 4269 or the President of WUPA, Jason Hart on 4221 5398.

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128