VCA alumni Francis Carmody and Matthew Asling awarded the Keith and Elisabeth Murdoch Travelling Fellowship

(L-R): Francis Carmody in studio at Gertrude Contemporary during his recent exhibition. Photographer Tim Herbet ; Artist and Fellowship recipient Matthew Asling in the studio. Photographer Joe Blair.

Victorian College of the Arts alumni Francis Carmody and Matthew Asling are the recipients of the 2023 Keith and Elisabeth Murdoch Travelling Fellowship for the arts.

Selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants, Mr Carmody and Mr Asling will each receive a $22,500 grant to undertake travel in service of a major artistic project.

Mr Carmody has said he will use the scholarship to travel to Boston (USA) for three months in October 2024 to undertake an Additive Manufacturing short course. He will also meet with researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to apply the learnings and experiment with new 3D printing techniques and practices.

“It’s a significant step for my practice. Exploring ideas through this new medium is something I’ve wanted to do for a while but I haven’t had the resources. I’m excited for the opportunity to pursue this practice on a larger scale, have those conversations and engage in a meaningful exchange of knowledge with experts in this technology.” he said.

Mr Asling has said he will travel to Turkey to investigate ties between aesthetic relations and contemporary art, with a focus on the iconoclastic measures taken against Assyrian art and artefacts.

“Receiving the Keith and Elisabeth Murdoch Travelling Fellowship is a great honour. As a member of the Assyrian diaspora it grants me the privilege of travelling to traditional tribal lands in Southeastern Turkey and exploring historical sites and Assyrian artefacts across the Middle East and Europe." he said.

"This journey is invaluable for my artistic growth as it will provide me with a firsthand understanding of the geographical and historical context that informs and enriches the themes in my art practice.”

The biennial award was established in 1994 and supports Australian art alumni in overseas travel during the early years of their professional careers. The selection panel included Dr Kiron Robinson, artists and Senior Lecturer; and Jessica Clark, Head of Photography, esteemed Yalingwa Curator at ACCA and recent PhD alumni.