The University of Melbourne has launched a major arts project entitled First Commissions. The project sought 30 emerging artists to create artistic representations of seven historical commissions, ranging from the Titanic to Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty. Of the 30, five artists have responded, in a true 21st century version, to perceptions surrounding human physical perfection, lauded in Michelangelo’s 16th-century masterpiece David. Their works will be launched on July 4 at the Accademia Di Belle Arti Fi Firenze (the Florence Academy of Fine Arts.)

The artists were not informed as to what the original briefs related to, in order for them to create reinterpretations that deal with more immediate contemporary and global issues. The five artists who reimagined Michelangelo’s David are Esther Stewart, Ash Perry, Sam Kreusler, Danna Yun and Jack Riley.

Sam Kreusler, Danna Yun, Jack Riley, Esther Stewart and Ash Perry with Matt Delbridge, the Associate Dean, Faculty of Fine Art and Music. Photograph courtesy of the University of Melbourne

Melbourne based artist, Esther Stewart, whose notion is that “perfection is contextual”, has created a large-scale fabric installation called The Space has been created for something to happen. Her work dismantles the physical and social restraints...