A Brisbane-based artist with a passion for academia will present the guest address for students graduating from The University of Queensland on Wednesday evening.
Kathryn Brimblecombe-Fox, who completed her UQ BA in 1980, said she was delighted to be offering some words of wisdom to graduands from the Arts and Social and Behavioural Sciences Faculties.
“I’m hoping to pay homage to the fact that I’m an artist, but also that I have an academic background,” Ms Brimblecombe-Fox said.
“As an artist I’m informed by my academic, or intellectual, interest.
“I want to suggest that a degree is another part of the tool kit which helps you to form your view of the world.”
After graduating with a double major in Art History, Ms Brimblecombe-Fox forged a career in the competitive art world, and has had significant success in Brisbane, and internationally.
She has always, however, maintained close ties with her Alma Mater, an institution which crops up frequently in the Brimblecombe family history.
“My mother actually has three UQ degrees, including a Masters by research in Education, which was a tremendous amount of work,” Ms Brimblecombe-Fox said.
“Two of my paternal Aunts completed academic studies at UQ.
"One of my Aunts was the first female to graduate from UQ in the field of Agricultural Science, and my brother (Wilfred Brimblecombe), also a UQ graduate, is an Assistant Director in the IT section.”
In 2000, Ms Brimblecombe-Fox was invited by UQ’s Art History department to enrol in a PhD.
She successfully completed the bridging course for entry into the program, but has not continued with the PhD because her art practice became her focus.
Last year, she drew upon her experiences of exhibiting in Abu Dhabi during 2005 to present an ‘art and peace’ talk at UQ’s Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies.
“I will be talking about this experience under the banner of perspectives,” Ms Brimblecombe-Fox said.
“By visiting another environment and seeing how other people live, it’s possible to change your own opinions and judgements.
“I want to suggest that we have the power to utilise the ability of perspective to feel more compassionate, and perhaps be more understanding of others and ourselves.”
Ms Brimblecombe-Fox will speak at the ceremony on Wednesday, July 16 at 6pm at the UQ Centre, St Lucia, for students from the Schools of Education; English, Media Studies and Art History; Journalism and Communication; Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies; and Music.
“I studied French, History and Art History so I’m thrilled to be addressing an Arts audience, many of whom will have studied in the same areas I did,” she said.
MEDIA: Penny Robinson at UQ Communications (07 3365 9723, penny.robinson@uq.edu.au) or Ms Brimblecombe-Fox (0409 059 018, k.brimblecombe@bigpond.com)
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