Meet Piper Day, the winner of the 2025 Top Arts Officeworks Creativity Award – a prize awarded for the most creative use of materials within an artist’s work.
Piper’s artwork was shown alongside the innovative works of 39 other students in the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) Top Arts exhibition, an annual showcase highlighting the works of Victorian Certificate of Education Students who studied Art Making and Exhibiting and Art Creative Practice.
We sat down with Piper to learn more about her award-winning artwork, the inspiration behind it, her creative process and what’s next on her horizon.
Congratulations on Your Win! How Does It Feel?
I was a bit shocked when I got the call. There are so many incredible artworks in the exhibition and it was a bit shocking to find out that I got the award, but I’m very grateful.
What Does This Award Mean to You?
It’s made me feel a bit more confident about creating. I’m glad that people enjoyed my work and found some connection to it.
What’s Your Connection to Art Like?
I’ve always been connected to art and creativity. Both of my parents are very creative, so they always encourage me to try different art mediums and materials. [Growing up], my parents would put me into art workshops, like a watercolour class or a spray paint workshop. They encouraged me to develop my skills and make art.
SEE ALSO: My Creative Process With Jess Keeli
So Let’s Talk About Your Winning Artwork ‘Gwai Mui’. What First Sparked Your Inspiration?
I knew I wanted to do my artwork about identity and culture, but I didn’t know what specifically. Then, I was inspired by something that happened to my sister. My sister and I are half Chinese, but we don’t really look Chinese. During a cultural day at school, she wore a traditional Chinese dress and someone said something about how she “didn’t look Asian enough,” which made me think about who I am and how others see me. I named the artwork gwai mui, which is Cantonese slang for someone who is or looks like a white non-Chinese person.
What Message Were You Trying to Convey?
In the artwork, I wanted to look at how things like what we did as kids make us who we are and how we hang on to that, but how that also holds you back. I was trying to bring my Chinese culture out towards the audience. I hope people connect with the way the work looks, like the pretty flowers and patterns, but I hope the longer they look they see that things that first look pretty can also sometimes be more complicated. But I think it’s up to the person to bring their own views and ideas to the work and connect with it in their own ways.
What Elements Have Resonated With Your Audience the Most?
Everybody’s asked about the details and how complex it is. The more you look at the artwork, the more you notice. First you see the flowers, the buildings or the pattern at the back. But then I’ve also incorporated the word ‘gwai mui’ into the artwork, which not many people notice until they look more at it and then mix them all to make connections.
Let’s Chat About How You Made This Artwork: What Methods and Materials Did You Use?
I put the main photo into Photoshop and then I created the shapes and designs myself. Once I was happy with the design and the photos were printed, I projected my design from Photoshop onto the printed photo and I used a pencil to trace [the patterns], and then I would cut it from there. I used a utility knife to cut the paper. I had to go down to Officeworks a lot to change the blade.
SEE ALSO: The Creative Tech These 4 Artists Swear By
How Long Did It Take You to Create This Artwork, From Beginning to End?
It was about nine weeks from coming up with the idea to completing it. Tracing [the design] took the longest and then cutting the paper [by hand].
Was There Anything That You Tried and It Failed in Creating Your Artwork?
Before [I started] the final work, I knew I wanted to do paper cutting. I tested it with laser cutting but it didn’t work well, and it burnt the edges of the paper, which didn't look great. [In the end], I decided to hand-cut it to make it more personal.
Creating Art Can Come With Its Pressures and Even More so When You’ve Got a Time Frame to Complete It for an Assessment. What’s Your Advice to Art Students Who Will Experience the Same Process?
Art, especially for an assessment, can be really intensive, but I’ve got three pieces of advice. One is to be open. Stay open to ideas, even if they’re really out there or not part of your theme; you never know where they’ll lead. The second one is to take breaks. Creating art can be draining, but I found just stepping away for a day or two or working on another part of it helped me come up with ideas for my final piece. It helped me clear my mind and then look at it from a new angle. And then [thirdly], surround yourself with people that are supportive and will give you space to go through the creative process. [For me], it’s my parents, my family, friends and teachers as well. They can also provide new angles, or they can just be there to support you.
What’s Been Inspiring You Lately?
To be honest, I’ve found it hard to be creative since starting uni because it’s been really busy, but in the last few weeks I’ve felt like I’m ready to start something new. My parents want me to do a series of [my final work], so I’ve started taking photos and coming up with a few ideas. I’ve got the urge to keep creating.
Are There New Mediums You Want to Try Next?
I’m open to trying new things, but I’ve just leaned into paper art. I also love doing origami; it’s kind of incredible how you can manipulate paper and make it look interesting.
SEE ALSO: How to Create Handmade Cards
What Are Your Plans for the Future and What Part Does Art Play in It?
I’m at uni now but I’m actually not doing anything creative, which a lot of people find shocking. I’m studying orthoptics. I’ll keep making art just because I love it. It just makes me feel good and it’s always like a good break when you need to step away from uni. I just want to keep trying to make things to express myself and hopefully people will also like it.
Image 1: Piper Day with their work Gwai Mui, 2024 in Top Arts 2025 on display from 14 March – 20 July 2025 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne. Photo: Eugene Hy
Image 2: Piper Day, Gwai Mui, 2024, inkjet print and paper, 76.0 x58.2 cm, Melbourne Girls’ College, Richmond, Wurundjeri Country © Piper Day
