'Philip Agius is a Canberra-based visual artist working in the medium of contemporary jewellery. He is interested in the healing power of wearable objects – his neck pieces incorporate a tear-shape motif representing transformation.

'I make each piece directly from drawings which are like a meditation for me and are instinctive and gestural. Symbolically the tear represents transformation. My perspective is rooted in the classical understanding of ‘lacrimae rerum’ (the ‘tears of things’ or ‘sadness of life’), suggesting that a necessary degree of suffering and sorrow is inherent to the human condition and essential for authentic transformation. Tears not as a sign of weakness or mere sadness but as a transformative catalyst that breaks open the human heart and leads to profound personal growth.'

Agius’s works also comment on environmental waste and mass consumption, challenging conventional notions of jewellery-making and pushing the limits of contemporary practice.

In 2024, Agius graduated from the Australian National University with a Master of Contemporary Practice in Art and Design (Advanced). He is the ANU School of Art and Design’s 2024 Emerging Artist Support Scheme winner of the Canberra Museum and Gallery Ramp Showcase Award.

This exhibition will showcase new and existing works by the artist.