Main points:
- Show Off 18 art exhibition open 18-26 March
- Bibra Lake artist Nina Dakin one of 916 to exhibit since established by City in 2003
- Free exhibition open daily at Memorial Hall, 435 Carrington Street, Hamilton Hill
The urge to create is a prolific and varied lifelong exploit for young Bibra Lake artist Nina Dakin.
Show Off 18 marks the second consecutive year she has successfully applied to participate in the City of Cockburn’s well-known annual exhibition, due to launch at Memorial Hall in Hamilton Hill on 18 March.
A self-described comic artist, illustrator and storyboarder, Nina (22) debuted some of her graphic comic creations in last year’s exhibition.
She has entered two very different pieces in this year’s exhibition. A steel-plate etching called ‘The Pleiades’, is an exploration of human connection through the constellation of the seven sisters. ‘Bower Bird’ is a vibrant oil plucked from a series of paintings created during her final year of a Bachelor of Design majoring in Animation and Game Design at Curtin University.
Award-winning artist storyteller at heart
A storyteller at heart, Nina’s comic work ‘As You Drive’ was awarded a Bronze Comic Art Award of Australia in 2021 and her webcomic Bird Girl was shortlisted for the Comic Art Awards of Australia in 2021.
Her work has also been published in Paper Bird’s Flight magazine, in the Curtin Illustration Club’s Myth Comic Anthology and West Coast Comic Anthology (published by Neighbourhood Press).
Inspired by her older sisters who entered their own works in Show Off while she was a primary school student, Nina’s father John Dakin has also entered his sculptures in the City’s annual exhibition over the past two years.
In between working part time in marketing, and on freelance illustration commissions, Nina’s main artistic project is a fantasy comedy Webtoon called The Gap Year which can be read
online.
Show Off exhibition unique in West Australian art scene
City of Cockburn Head of Library and Cultural Services Brittany Cover said Show Off was unique in the WA art scene because it included artists who exhibited internationally, and those establishing their artistic journeys.
“And the best part is that it’s free for our artists to exhibit and for the community to attend,” Ms Cover said.
In the 17 years since Show Off began, the City has purchased about 76 artworks valued at around $67,000 to add to its collection.
Since its inception in 2003, Show Off has exhibited works collectively valued at more than $2.6m, featuring 916 exhibitors, starting with 19 exhibitors in the inaugural show to 71 at the 2023 event.
Five artists have exhibited in every show since the exhibition began: Larry Mitchell, George Haynes, Jane Martin, Sharyn Egan and Trevor Vickers.
Online gallery available again for 2023 exhibition
The popularity of an online gallery introduced in response to the pandemic will be available again for Show Off 18.
The gallery will appear on the City’s website for the duration of the exhibition. Keep an eye on our socials for a link to view.
Show Off 18 will be held at Memorial Hall, 465 Carrington Street, Hamilton Hill and open daily 10am-3pm 18 to 26 March. The exhibition will open until 7pm on Friday 24 March.
A majority of artworks on exhibition will be for sale.