Andrew Williams, a Rotorua Young Achiever in 2024, finished his final year of high school by being selected for NZQA's Top Art exhibition for the second time. Photo / Andrew Warner
Andrew Williams, a Rotorua Young Achiever in 2024, finished his final year of high school by being selected for NZQA's Top Art exhibition for the second time. Photo / Andrew Warner
A student from John Paul College who “always gravitated towards” the arts hasn’t let chronic fatigue syndrome deter the creation of a nationally exhibited portfolio - two years running.
Andrew Williams, 18, completed his final year at John Paul College last year, capping off a significant milestone with another selection in NZQA’s Top Art exhibition.
NZQA organises the exhibition to showcase the best art produced by NCEA Level 3 Visual Arts students in a range of galleries, museums, and schools.
“I had to cut down my activity a lot to manage my symptoms, initially I tried to keep doing everything I was before becoming ill, but it made my fatigue and pain worse,” Williams said.
He would often get jealous of his peers for being able to do so much while he had to rest, pass on certain opportunities and also give up subjects.
“That kind of stuff takes a toll on you, like FOMO [fear of missing out] to the nth degree.
“Last year I tried to be more mindful of my body while working on my portfolio, trying not to push it to the point of exhaustion.”
He said this was better for his body but meant he wasn’t able to give as much time and energy to his work.
His photography portfolio A Body, Unmasked, was exhibited in Top Art 2024. Photo / Mark Coote, New Zealand Qualifications Authority
“I had to constantly fight my perfectionism in order to manage my pain and expectations.”
Williams said he was “very visual” and struggled to communicate his feelings authentically through words, but found the arts helped to fill those gaps.
“I’ve sort of always gravitated towards the arts since I was young. I’m drawn to creative arts as a means of expression, so being able to do that at school always excited me. I just love learning new things.
He said the structured guidance and environment Edwards provided was what kept him going to help him succeed.
“I’m often very critical of my work, and end up in a loop of burnout and unfinished projects.
“I always feel like I never finish things, so having two finished works of this scale is satisfying.”
His Year 12 photography portfolio was selected to be exhibited at Top Art 2024, and Williams’s design portfolio from his final year of high school was selected to be displayed at Top Art 2025.
He said the photography portfolio was a way to express a feeling he had never begun to put words to.
“It’s my experience with intense body dysmorphia and a little bit of how that intersects with my transness, chronic illness and neurodivergence.”
His design folio showed the process of creating a visual identity for an indie game called The Other Cabin.
William's design portfolio, made in 2024 to be exhibited in Top Art 2025, showed the process of creating a visual identity for a game idea The Other Cabin. Photo / Supplied
“The Other Cabin is a metaphor for the inherent social othering of being trans, queer or generally going against the norm. It mostly comes from the lived experience of being a gender-diverse person.”
Williams said “it’s crazy” his work has been - and is soon to be - travelling around the country for others to be inspired by.
“I honestly just hope that people are inspired by my work, I want it to be a jumping-off point for others to express themselves and their experiences.”
Bryony Edwards, now head of visual arts at John Paul College, said being recognised two years in a row was testament to Williams’s exceptional talent.
“Andrew’s portfolio has it all, an understanding of design briefs and principles, an incredibly high level of technical skill and an understanding of a wide range of art-making practices.
“He produced work that is representative of who he is, so it is personal which of course makes his work unique.”
She said he was a prolific and driven student who communicated openly and honestly and had clear ideas about who he was and what he wanted to achieve.
“I am so lucky to be able to teach high-achieving students, I’ve learnt a lot from Andrew. It has really been a privilege to teach him.”
Williams will start at Massey University this year, studying a bachelor of screen arts but may change to a bachelor of design.
“I’m doing a mix of courses from both degrees so I can explore my options and figure out what suits me.”
Hanwei Zhou, a John Paul College printmaking student, was also selected for Top Art and was taught by printmaking teacher Claire Worrall.
Kaitlyn Morrell is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.
