Hayden Jung THE SUBMERGED SANCTUARY (NSW)

Tell us how your artwork addresses this year’s theme ’We Belong’: 

 To me, belonging means finding a safe sanctuary where you can let your guard down and be completely yourself without changing to fit in. My artwork illustrates this by contrasting a dark, monochromatic storm at the top of the page – representing the overwhelming social pressures and isolation of the outside world – with a vibrant, glowing underwater tent below. Inside this protective sanctuary, a diverse group of teenagers are shown laughing and sharing space. By placing this safe haven beneath the surface chaos, my piece demonstrates how true community creates a protective barrier against life’s storms, proving we thrive when we find the space we belong. 

Tell us about the ideas or themes your artwork explored with the theme ‘We Belong’:  

My artwork explores the ideas of emotional safety, strength found in diversity and the contrast between isolation and inclusion. It examines the concept of a safe haven as an ecosystem requiring everyone’s unique identity to function. The teenage experience of mental health and vulnerability is explored as well, illustrating that while the outside world can feel cold and turbulent, finding a supportive community provides the emotional warmth and grounded needed to survive the storm. 

What type of art have you submitted and why: 

My artwork is a fine-liner pen and coloured pencil drawing. I chose this medium because it allowed me to create the intense, dramatic contrast I wanted to achieve for this concept. The precision of the inks/pencils allowed me to map out intricate lines, giving the protected community inside the tent a crisp and tangible reality.