Is there anything Mitch Revs can’t do?

After wowing Newcastle with his fantastic artworks, he’s now fusing scientific brilliance with creative artistry for the 2023 HMRI Art Series.

The talented artist recently joined forces with the recipient of the 2022 Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) Award for Research Excellence, Professor Brett Nixon.

And, as a result, the unveiling of the collaborative offering Seedling took place in front of more than 350 guests at HMRI’s Annual Medical Research Week Community Seminar on Wednesday evening.  

It will be auctioned at the Hunter Medical Research Institute Ball on Saturday 17 June, with proceeds going towards further research. 

Since its launch in 2005, the HMRI Art Series has become an annual tradition, thanks to the support of Chris and Shirley Piggott and the generosity of local artists from the region. 

Every year, the winner of HMRI’s Award for Research Excellence receives the opportunity to work with a Hunter creative, combining their research with artistic expression.

On this occasion, inspired by the life’s work of Professor Nixon, Revs delved into the extraordinary and, often heartbreaking, realm of infertility. 

While he was unable to be there in person at the unveiling, due to the flu, he talked about his piece through the marvels of modern technology… Zoom.

“I was introduced to Brett at the start of the year and got a bit of an insight into the research that he does daily,” he said.

“So, I was lucky enough to have the chance to see some of the work they do first-hand in the lab.

“This was an incredible experience and something that I’ll never forget. 

“But, I remember coming home and going straight into my studio; and while the lab visit helped give me an understanding of how things look under a microscope, I was struggling to figure out how to transform that onto a canvas.

“I had to ensure there was a feeling attached to the artwork. “My biggest fear was not reflecting Brett’s work in this piece.”  

However, Revs wasn’t to be defeated that easily.  

“I reached out to one of my good friends, Andrew Sambell, who dabbles in poetry from time to time and gave him the backstory of the project I’d been given,” he said.

“Without me even getting the chance to ask if he could write something for me, he said, ‘Mate, give me 20 minutes’.

“Within that time, he texted me a poem that brought me to tears.

“I know how it feels to be holding on and hoping for it to be your time to bring life into the world.

“And, I can tell you, this was magic and it’s what the artwork needed.”

In addition to the unveiling of Seedling, this year’s Community Seminar featured presentations from all three of HMRI’s 2022 award winners; Associate Professor Michelle Kennedy (recipient of the HMRI 2022 Award for Early-Career Research), Professor Pradeep Tanwar (recipient of the HMRI 2022 Award for Mid-Career Research) and, of course, Professor Nixon.

“The HMRI Art Series is an important part of our commitment to communicating the value of medical research to the community,” director Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin said.

“It provides an opportunity to highlight the work of outstanding researchers along with the power of art to communicate complex ideas in a visually appealing way while supporting local artists.

“I was blown away when I first saw Mitch’s work unveiled and following his reading of the poem and those strong words, it brought tears to the eyes of about everybody in the room.

“It’s a very special piece of work.

“As someone who has also been a recipient of this incredible honour, I’m sure Brett is feeling quite humbled by the experience.”

Professor Nixon’s goal is to enhance the ability to diagnose infertility and develop effective therapeutic strategies that will alleviate the burden of infertility.

With their combined expertise, Revs created an impressive piece that bridges the gap between science and art.  

“To have been a recipient of the HMRI Researcher of the Year has been the highlight of my career,” Professor Nixon said.

“It’s a genuine honour to be considered worthy of this prestigious award.

“I’m deeply grateful to HMRI and our community of wonderful donors for their generosity in supporting myself and my team in achieving our research goals.

“I am also deeply indebted to Mitch for his incredible artwork portraying the significance of our research.

“It is an exceptional piece of art that he has created and one that is full of symbolism capturing the emotional journey that couples with infertility face.

“Hearing the back story to the work brought tears to my eyes as I am sure it did to most in the audience.

“I’m in awe of how Mitch has been able to transform my life’s work into such a stunning artwork and the unveiling will be a moment that lives with me always and will serve as a source of inspiration as I continue my research journey.”

To make a bid on Seedling, contact the HMRI Philanthropy Team on 4042 1000. 

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