Nine year old from Gregory Hills wins national art competition

Australia is home to one quarter of the world’s sharks and rays species, around 300 all up.

Nearly half are endemic, found nowhere else in the world.

Thirteen of our endemic sharks are threatened with extinction mostly due to overfishing.

To raise awareness and help protect Australia’s unique lesser-known and endangered species, the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Humane Society International Australia joined forces to run a competition asking budding da Vincis to create an artwork depicting one of 10 of them.

More than 1500 entries from all over Australia were received for the Fantastical Sharks & Rays children’s art competition, including one from a nine year old student from the Macarthur region, Iluka Michel, of Gregory Hills.

You can guess what comes next: Iluka’s entry was one of the 10 winners out of all those 1500 entries.

The Macarthur youngster chose the Maugean skate for her artwork entry.

“I chose the Maugean skate because I liked the look of it,’’ she said.

“It’s unique and doesn’t deserve to be endangered. I hope my artwork helps people realise that this species is endangered and convinces them to save the Maugean skate.

“I decided to do a paper mache model because I wanted to go next level and create something that looked realistic.”

Iluka’s artwork – along with the other nine winners – is now on display at the Australian Museum’s Fantastical Sharks & Rays exhibition, which runs until December 8.

But wait, there’s more.

The children’s creations were also reimagined by renowned Australian artists such as Ken Done, 2022 Archibald Prize winner Blak Douglas and Dion Horstmans.

Now the 20 works from the children and the famous artists sit side by side for the exhibition at the Australian Museum (until December 8).

Sculptor Dion Horstmans, who chose Iluka’s artwork for his inspiration, said:“I’m an avid ocean swimmer, and it’s captivating how light and shadow play with shapes underwater.

“My sculptures capture nature’s geometry in dynamic metal works. If we capture sharks, let it be in art and together we can save them and our oceans.”