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DOTTI LI
XING HUN (形婚)
As a Chinese immigrant navigating life between Australia and China, I’ve observed a unique family structure emerging in China: "sham marriages" between gay men and lesbians. These marriages, known as "Xing Hun," outwardly appear traditional but are a pragmatic response to societal pressures. Since gay marriage is illegal in China and many families struggle with accepting homosexuality, some LGBTQ individuals marry someone of the opposite sex to meet social expectations.
The *Xing Hun* project is about the real story of one such family a gay husband, a lesbian wife, and her partner. Married for 10 years, they present as a "normal" couple to their families, friends, and colleagues, while privately living with their respective partners. This project aims to reveal the hidden complexities of these arrangements.
Dotti Li is a visual photographer/artist based in Melbourne, dedicated to capturing moments with precision and infusing them with narrative depth. Passionate about both digital and film photography, I embark on a quest to immortalise fleeting instants, elevating the mundane to the sublime. Beyond merely a device, the lens serves as a gateway, inviting viewers to delve into the core of emotions, the allure of beauty, and the spirit of each composition. The work celebrates cultural diversity, expressed through a distinctive artistic vision that reveals the world as perceiving it.
THANG DO
Be careful what you say or I will make a work about it.
Where I grew up, parents drug their gay sons into fucking a female prostitute to “bend them back” to being straight. And if that girl got pregnant from that one time? Jackpot, now there’s something to ground their son forever!
Where I grew up, if your parents found out that you were gay, they would threaten to cross your name out of the household government documents so you could not even go to school or get a passport.
Where I grew up, it is a child’s duty to give their parents an heir so they don’t feel left behind compared to their peers; after that, you can just go back to fucking men on the side and leave your wife to taking care of the child by herself. Hey, at least your parents now have a new toy to show off …
Sometimes we forget the kindness that existed in a few privileged countries is nothing but a fairy tale in most parts of the world. Media popularity does not reflect reality’s prevalence. Shown in this exhibition is a collection of words that the artist's parents have said to him during his coming out process.
Thang Do is a queer Vietnamese artist whose works embody the human obsession with spectacles as means of escaping reality and fuelling hope. As a migrant worker obsessed with chasing the 'American/Australian' dream, Thang manifests empowerment in his work and invites others to do the same. Working with domestic materials such as paper, glitter, and foil, the artist uses techniques like embellishing, scoring, and folding, to assemble fantasised vessels resembling his constant travels between the physical reality and the wishful realm of the privileged and wealthy.
Be careful what you say or I will make a work about it.
A fraction of my parents' words and gold metal leaf on kraft card.
200cm x 110cm (each).
$979 each.
SOULS / MidSumma Festival 2025
OPENING NIGHT : FRIDAY 17 JAN 2025, 6:00 - 9:00 pm.
EXHIBITION : 14 JAN - 2 FEB 2025
Curated selection of artists will present their artwork and participate in Midsumma Festival, Australia's premier celebration of queer arts and culture, bringing together a vibrant mix of LGBTIQA+ artists, performers, communities, and audiences.
The program amplifies the voices of marginalised individuals, shares queer history, and showcases new perspectives.
Midsumma Festival Exhibition.
Curated by @pimpisatinpalit
100 ARTISTS
CATALOGUE
CARTOON WORKS YELLOW
Kenya, a Japanese illustrator and cartoonist, was influenced by cartoons from an early age and has been drawing since he can remember. In 2021, he created three yellow-skinned characters representing different aspects of his personality, allowing him to express his life through art. This exhibition showcases a series of works documenting his life in Australia over the past year, supported by crowdfunding.
IVVY DERMAN
IVVY DERMAN
Ivvy is emerging artist who has spent the past year focusing on creating playful still-life paintings exploring our core love for food and drink, with the new year ushering in an increasing passion for exotic jungle fauna and flora.
CATALOGUE
CAMILLE PINGUL
Camille is an emerging Kapampangan artist based in Pampanga, Philippines. Her signature style features women depicted in bold, vibrant colors, with closed eyes and no mouths. This distinctive approach reflects her own quiet strength, blending the tranquility of nature with personal memories and experiences. The women in her art symbolize both herself and influential female figures, promoting themes of peace and female empowerment.
Through her art, Camille hopes to bring her audience a sense of peace and joy.
CATALOGUE
GROUP SHOW : AHA
GROUP SHOW : AHA
DREWFUNK
Born in Malaysia, Drewfunk is an artist who aims to recapture his heritage through the context of street art. He has always been drawn to characters, animals and mystical creatures.
VIET-MY BUI
Viet-My Bui is a Vietnamese-Australian artist and illustrator. Her art explores themes of girlhood, magic, and self-discovery through character-driven imagery and luminous, fantastical paintings.
TIM STA-ANA
Tim Sta-Ana is a multifaceted creative expert based in Naarm/Melbourne, with a strong foundation in animation, visual arts, and creative technology, complemented by collaborations with Netflix, Hulu, and Disney.
YAN YAN CANDY NG
Yan Yan Candy Ng, originally from Hong Kong, is an illustrator and artist in Melbourne. Her expertise spans illustration, mural design, and map drawing, resulting in works that embody her cheerful and whimsical artistic voice.
CATALOGUE
JEREMY J HAM
LIQUID POLYRHYTHM
The ‘Liquid Polyrhythm’ exhibition transforms the polyrhythm of drumming into ‘liquid’ digital artworks. Utilising improvisation as a generative methodology, I have revealed my musical lexicon through the recording of hundreds of drum solos on the digital drum kit. From these, I extracted a vast musical data set then applied a series of computational procedures to develop new worlds of liquid polyrhythm where the improvised complexities of my drumming are transformed into multi-layered psychedelic imagery: as polyrhythm manifested in visual delight.
Jeremy J Ham (PhD) is a SurfCoast-based architect, design researcher, drummer and digital artist. Through a PhD in Architecture and Design at SIAL RMIT (2019), Jeremy theorised a continuum between the musical and the spatial domains (the musico-spatial) through his dual practice as a drummer and architect. Jeremy’s musico-spatial creative practice operates across sound (Digital Drumscapes), digital art (Liquid Polyrhythm) and in Virtual Reality (Synaespatia).
Jeremy has exhibited works at in Melbourne and Coastal Victoria and presented research papers and performative installations internationally.
RHYS PARKINSON
A Melbourne based illustrator working mainly with graphite and coloured pencil, my work focuses on hyperrealism where the illustration, which is created from a photographic source, is drawn in a way that emphasizes photographic techniques such as lighting, focus, blur, etc.
My recent illustration series, titled ‘Dipped’ explores still life with a modern twist. Each piece of fruit or vegetable is photographed in a controlled environment where the lighting and angle is pre-determined, mimicking the control artist’s had over fruit and vegetable arrangements in traditional still life practice. The element of colour is used to create harmony as each fruit or vegetable is dipped in a complimentary opposite paint colour where possible. This harmony is contrasted against the incompatibility of the fruit or vegetable and paint itself, creating a strong graphic sense of unease. Working across both fine art and design, my work instinctively blends both throughout the stages of creation, from initial photography, composition, lighting, image preparation, through to the illustration itself.
KAITLIN PIGNATARO
“S is for Sanctuary. Sanctuary is silence. Sanctuary is solitude. Sanctuary is serendipitous. Sanctuary is sad. Sanctuary is sensual. Sanctuary is unique to oneself, intangible and untouchable. The stillness of myself and mind is a sanctuary.” The following works explore the idea of sanctuary through images of both pensive reflection and indulgence.
Themes of loneliness, exploration, intrigue, and relief play together in the works to reflect what I believe sanctuary is a private world. Taken in various abandoned spaces, the idea of sanctuary is redefined. These areas are in a state of ‘post-sanctuary’, once lived in and now forgotten, and when they are demolished, they will assume a ‘pre-sanctuary’ state. Sanctuary is ever-changing, undefinable and never, ever judging.
CATALOGUE
BETTY NICHOLSON
"Moon Songs at the Opera" is a deeply personal exploration of life, loss, and the human condition. Born from the grief of losing two dear friends who cherished opera, this collection of paintings emerged from countless nights spent gazing at the moon in all its phases, contemplating life's profound questions.
"Moon Songs at the Opera" is a visual narrative that probes into the complexities of human existence. Revisiting a lifetime of dreams, sketches, and fragmented memories, the images in this exhibition arise from the subconscious, uncovering the joys, sorrows, and anxieties that shape our waking lives. Dreams, in their surreal beauty and unsettling darkness, offer a window into the burdens we carry and the curiosities that drive us.
JOSH DYKGRAAF
MORPHOLOGY
Morphology, is focused on the connection between the viewer and different Australian wildlife - looking for what brings us to care about different species of animals and the issues affecting them as a result of our actions.
Josh Dykgraaf is a photographic manipulation artist based in Melbourne, Australia. His work features manipulations of his own photography - each piece is composed of hundreds of photos using material Josh has shot, each requiring 30-80 hours to make, with the resulting images usually having thousands of layers.
His work explores world building, sense of scale and wonder - deconstructing and reforming the world we live in. He is particularly focused on the impact that we as a species are having on the natural environment around us, exploring wildlife conservation and climate change.
CHARLES NANOS
Weaving nostalgia and storytelling into my artworks, infusing them with vibrant colours I strive to transport the viewer into a realm of cherished memories and imaginative narratives.
Charlie Nanos, based near the Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne, Victoria, has successfully transitioned from a tradesman to a full-time original artist over the past few years. In 2021, he was diagnosed with a rare heart condition, necessitating his transition from trade work. Charlie now leverages his passion for art as a means of recovery, striving to bring more vibrancy to our world through original abstract, modern designs, and Australian landscapes in his distinctive simplistic style.
BOONYARITH SEELADECH
Dreams are curious things. They conceal and reveal at the same time, distorting what we think we know while offering glimpses of something deeper. They transform familiar experiences into something unfamiliar, blurring the line between reality and imagination.
What we dream about is often rooted in our lived experiences, yet dreams seem to create their own reality—a dimension that feels real but exists just out of reach. In this series, I explore these dreamscapes, reinterpreting symbols and creating surreal landscapes that invite reflection on the spaces between presence and absence.
The voids within these works are not empty; they hold a quiet tension, charged with the interplay of memory, imagination, and perception. These paintings aren’t meant to explain or define but to offer a space where viewers can pause, wonder, and navigate their own interpretations—much like the nature of dreams themselves.
The Indistinct Ephemera of Now
THE INDISTINCT EPHEMERA OF NOW
The Indistinct Ephemera of Now includes work by Ingmar Apinis, Sue Beyer, Linda Loh, Simon Rankin, Angela Rossitto who all make work informed by postdigital, post internet and post AI concerns.
In an increasingly digitised world, we ask what it is to be human. The artists in this exhibition find common ground in ideas that point to “a cultural change that is occurring and an attempt to understand the ways in which technology shapes the things we make, as well as the ways in which we in turn perceive these things” (Paul 2023, 251). Topics like climate change, financial inequalities, the internet, social media, and the advent of AI, are a part of today’s dominant cultural mode and can be collectively referred to as the Metacrisis. Despite this bend in history, a sense of hope prevails in the work these artist’s make.
Ingmar Apinis speculates on the types of physical artifacts contemporary society might leave beyond for the humanities of some dystopian future. In his book, New Dark Age, artist and writer James Bridle discusses how global warming threatens the servers and wi-fi signals we depend on to access this network. Imagine if the internet suddenly became defunct and billions of cat videos and memes evaporated into the clouds. How would online culture be remembered historically?
Sue Beyer uses an interdisciplinary approach to focus on ideas relating to Instruction-based Art, transformation and the in-between. She joins disparate objects and mediums to create digital combines, a new genre that uses the metadata in a blockchain smart contract as a conceptual glue. Her work tells personal stories and makes meaning through a type of oscillation; a central idea found in Metamodernism.
Linda Loh has an experimental, process-oriented digital arts practice. She is preoccupied by ideas around light-based phenomena and subsequent connections to integral philosophy and psychology. Engaging a variety of software tools, she distorts and transforms photographs and videos that mostly originate from everyday light sources.
In Simon Rankin’s work we encounter creature-like anthropomorphic portraits. These portraits capture potential AI entities that could be powering chatbots, drone pilots, or autonomous machines. By imagining the familiar and foreign, “Specimens” considers implications of ceding control to rapidly advancing computational intelligence.
Angela Rossitto, an installation artist and sculptor, is currently investigating the human need to connect. Rossitto’s work emerges from a methodology of following materials.
NANI PUSPASARI
No Wi-Fi in This Paradise
No Wi-Fi in This Paradise is a whimsical ceramic wall and sculpture installation that blends pastel colours with kawaii-inspired pop art aesthetics. The work transports viewers to a dreamy, idyllic world where nature exists in its most charming and playful forms, untouched by the digital distractions of modern life. Through soft hues and cartoonish, surreal representations of natural elements, the installation invites contemplation of a simpler, more serene existence—one that doesn’t rely on constant connectivity. In this "paradise," the beauty of the natural world is celebrated in its purest, most joyful form, encouraging a moment of escape from the noise of the digital age.
Nani Puspasari, is a visual artist based in Naarm, Australia, whose practice spans installation, sculpture, digital illustration, painting, and ceramics. Rooted in storytelling, her work explores themes of childhood, identity, migration, and cultural hybridity, capturing emotions from innocence to sorrow. Drawing inspiration from Asian pop culture and Western design, she examines how cultural influences shape self-perception. Puspasari is a finalist for the 2024 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize and North Queensland Ceramic Awards, and was a finalist in the 2023 Muswellbrook Art Prize, Hornsby Art Prize, and TRAILS Sculpture Prize.
CATALOGUE
ERIN REINBOTH
In the Mind’s Eye
In the Mind’s Eye invites viewers into imagined landscapes where reality and abstraction merge. Each piece draws from real and invented places, capturing the echoes of nature through expansive horizons, fragmented terrains, and dreamlike scenes. Inspired by memory and emotion, the collection translates these elements into flowing colors and textures that hint at something both familiar and surreal.
This work is meant to be a visual escape—a space where the mind can wander and see landscapes through a fresh lens. It’s about transforming the everyday into the extraordinary, offering new perspectives with each glance.
With this collection, I aim to evoke a sense of connection to the landscapes of both earth and mind, encouraging viewers to bring their own stories and interpretations to the journey.
PARADISE PALETTE
PARADISE PALETTE 2024
Contemporary Art of Papua New Guinea is an opportunity to immerse yourself in a vibrant exposition of paintings showcasing the unique cultures, traditions, lifestyles and natural environment of Papua New Guinea on display
Be mesmerised by the creative works and talents of Papua New Guinea’s self taught artists, including Clement Koys, Arison Kul, Morgan Lavapo, Kuiye Siune, Apa Hugo, Willey Kauage, Peter Wena and Michael Mape.
PNG artists will be in attendance at the exhibition to guide viewers on the interpretation of individual paintings and provide commentary on the lifestyles of traditional and contemporary artists in Papua New Guinea.
THINN THINN KHINE AND NYEIN CHAN AUNG
Home
As migrants, we have lived and relocated,
We have experienced many different places,
Met many people and called many places home.
Is home my birthplace, where I grew up?
Is home my family?
Is home my childhood friends?
Is home the people I love,
The ones with whom I feel safe and secure?
Is home a new country that welcomes me?
Is home a city that lets me express my true self?
Is home a memory of a scent, a sensation,
A vision or a taste that reminds me of my youth?
Or is home where I will go after death and passing?
It is shifting, changing,
And I am still trying to find it.
THINN THINN & NYEIN AUNG
Born and raised in Yangon, Myanmar, Thinn Thinn developed a passion for art and nature while exploring her grandmother's garden. She utilizes diverse techniques to document and convey fleeting moments. Nyein Chan Aung, an award-winning Industrial Designer and Artist, explores 'subtle fantasy' by crafting art with overt narratives that conceal subtle anomalies, including chronological discrepancies, physical impossibilities, and unexpected juxtapositions.
PATRICK MICHAEL EDDY
CIRCLES N STEEL
"Circles n Steel" showcases an artistic evolution through unpredictability and experimentation. Captivated by unconventional methods, Eddy uses undisclosed tools to create vibrant, abstract patterns with unique markings. Inspired by Melbourne's culture , his work blends nostalgia with urban energy, transcending traditional 2D art. Pieces are crafted on primed galvanized steel, floating in hand-brushed aluminum frames, creating immersive, three-dimensional illusions. This series, made while away from Melbourne, conveys a longing for connection and celebrates the city’s influence. "Circles n Steel" offers lightness and joy amidst uncertainty, inviting viewers to explore and reflect on Eddy's journey of artistic experimentation.
AIDAN FILSHIE
Here begins my journey.
This is a journey of exploration, connection and expression. My art draws from the endless abundance of inspiration in the world around us. The process of translating nature onto the canvas captivates me. As such, each new painting is a play of observation, interpretation and articulation.
This exhibition presents works that I feel represent my search for artistic voice and relationship with the landscape. Water and light play a prominent role in many of the paintings – their fleeting nature creating an inherent link with the moment. This subject matter is explored through a manipulation of colour, texture and gesture.
I invite viewers to connect with the paintings in their own way. Pay attention to what draws you in but don’t overthink it. Enjoy the journey.
MARTIN TIGHE
Melbourne artist Martin Tighe has built a career focusing on stories important to Australia’s culture and identity. His work has examined wide-ranging subjects from Ronald Ryan, Tom Wills, Simpson’s Donkey and Picnic at Hanging Rock to Australian Rules Football, landscapes and portraiture.
Throughout his career Martin has used many different media to realise his art. These include traditional materials, oils, acrylics and bronze. Found objects such as scoreboard numbers, timber off-cuts and flat iron gathered from wheat farms have also been used.
Martin believes in fostering an appreciation of art and ideas within our community. Since 2001 he has exhibited regularly in both individual and group exhibitions, as part of his commitment to the cultural significance of the creative process. Martin is a regular entrant and finalist in the Archibald Prize and for many years he has assisted in the organisation of the annual Australian Rules Football art exhibition.
Martin has participated in a two-year artist-in-residence programme at a Melbourne secondary school. He presents his ideas imaginatively and confidently.
Text, courtesy of John Harms
Beatrice Magalotti & Begitte Andersen
“I Hang my Clothes”
A collaborative piece developed by Beatrice Magalotti & Begitte Andersen
The inception of the project was lyrics and music by Beatrice’s sister, Margaret Magalotti.
The installation incorporates 42 fabric banners throughout the space, screen printed, hand and machine embroidered with lyrics from the song. Large hand embroidered cushions are available for members of the public to sit on. Members of the public can download the music and lyrics from a QR-Code at the gallery.
The installation is a circle or spiral of banners slowly letting people into a universe of emotions. They can visualize, hear the song and be enveloped by a rich fragrant smell so that the viewer meets an intense atmosphere that reflects the core of the song and the way we see, smell and interpret the song. We hope to leave the audience with a sense of well-being.
BRUCE KIRKMAN
This series of paintings is a study of Mount Emu Creek, a river in Western Victoria stained by the memory of the massacre of indigenous inhabitants, the Tanbeere Gundidj clan, in 1839. The incident, now called The Murdering Gully Massacre, was one of many such occurrences in the early years of the white settlement of Australia. In recent decades, many academics and writers have been researching and giving voice to these secrets, but still many Australians remain unaware of the extent of this violent past.
These paintings focus on the river, the reeds and the ageing river red gums that I imagine as quiet custodians whose presence bear witness to the horrors that happened along this river.
Bruce has transitioned from a successful career in architecture to the world of figurative oil painting. His focus has shifted from bricks and mortar to the intricate elements of color, tone, light, and pictorial structure. Through his art, he delves into the depths of revealing the unseen narratives concealed within a human countenance, the walls of a room that have silently observed countless human stories, or the way emotions seep into an impartial natural vista. His work is a reflection of his fascination with the lasting impact of human interactions and history on our lives and surroundings.
LEVEL PLAYING FIELD 2024
LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
Level Playing Field is an innovative, inclusive and inspiring arts project celebrating self-expression and demonstrating how we are all different. A unique opportunity for connection, with all participants accepted as equal and deserving of the title of artist.
Facilitated by Sheena Mathieson, Level Playing Field has been running for 10 years and is based on Sheena’s firm belief that we are all artists (even if we don’t think we are).
Level Playing Field 2024 involved 100 artists each producing an artwork in one of 20 group sessions held between May and October 2024, in Melbourne, Barwon Heads, and Paris.
The same set of rules, technique, materials and primary colour palette applied to everyone involved. Different group dynamics and choices impacting the nature of the works produced. Individual yet unified creativity.
Level Playing Field 2024 artists:
Alesia, Amanda, Amelia, Amy, Anastasia, Anita, Anne, Anthony, Bill, Brett, Bronwyn, Carrie, Chase, Cheryl, Chloe Ba, Chloe Br, Christine C, Christine P, Claire, Clara, Clara O, Colette, Dave, Debby, Diya, Elana, Elise, Eliza, Elizabeth, Emilie, Evelyn, Fiona, Fiona L, Frances, Francesca, Frank, Gaye, Georgie, Ghosttaker, Ingrid, Isabelle, Jack, Jan, Jane, Janice, Janine, Jennifer, Jo, Jo P, Joanne, Joelene, Julian, Julie, Juliet, Kathy, Kerryn, Kim, Kirsten, Kristy, Lauris, Lexis, Lindesay, Louise, Manon, Margaret, Margie, Martine, Martyn, Mat, Merren , Michela, Monica, Naomi, Pam, Pascale, Patsy, Pete, Petre, Prue, Rashmi, Rita, Robyn, Rosa, Roslyn, Roxanne, Sally, Sharon B, Sharon W, Sheena, Sonya, Stephanie, Stephen, Suzy, Sylvie, Tristana, Vicki Si, Vicki St, Wrania, Yama, Zac
Each artwork on paper measures 12 x 12 cm and is framed in a cd case.
$2000 for the 100 artworks, or $50 per artwork.
CHIHO PARK
Park Chi-ho's artistic journey reflects his personal life, described as "floating" between his island hometown and city education. His work explores identity through Western painting, infused with traditional East Asian techniques. Park's art evolved from installation and animal depictions to self-portraits and limbless human figures, symbolizing the loss of individuality and autonomy in modern society.
ZANDRINA TACEY
ZANDRINA TACEY (1953-2004).
Zandrina’s art invites the viewer into a world of positivity, harmony, and excitement. The bold strokes and scintillating colours sparkle with life and connectivity with nature. Her work is charged with energy of strengthened relationships, based on respect, compassion and gratitude.
The images display a poignant understanding of our place in the world, representing improved relationships and inherent value of a life worth living. The evocative eyes of Zandrina’s characters, ‘see it all’ and engage the viewer in a thread that orchestrates a spirit that dances. The colours and patterns are a tapestry of a vibrant life that expresses the beauty of culture through love and understanding of humanity. Her artistic works bridge the natural world with ease and confidence in its stance, leaving the viewer wanting more!
SANDRA ESPINOZA
JOURNEYS.
Sandra Espinoza’s abstract artwork seeks to bring harmony by balancing form, colour and texture to create cohesive yet dynamic compositions. They are “journeys” that transcend literal interpretations of movement or travel, inviting a more personal and introspective exploration. These visual journeys are not about a defined destination but about the unfolding of sensations, thoughts, and moments, making the artwork itself a space for contemplation and transformation.
The relationships between elements often appear non-representational, but their interaction evokes a sense of unity or tension. This pursuit of harmony is about finding resonance between contrasting forces—chaos and order, movement and stillness—while leaving space for interpretation and emotional response, allowing viewers to engage with the artwork on multiple levels.
These paintings can evoke a sense of progression, capturing the fluidity of experiences that shape an individual’s perception.
Sandra Espinoza is a Melbourne based artist, currently in residence within the Dunmoochin foundation. Her abstract oil paintings have been showcased in numerous local exhibitions, including two solo shows in 2023 and 2024. Sandra’s artistic process serves as a testament to her unwavering commitment to sustainable creative expression and environmental consciousness. In June of this year, Sandra participated in a one month artist residency, with Can Serrat, in Barcelona. Participation in these residency opportunities have been pivotal to Sandra’s future direction and have emphasised her commitment to instinctive approaches in practice.
TISH HAUTEA
This art exhibition is a tribute to the individuals who have profoundly influenced the artist's journey of self-discovery and creative exploration. Each person encountered along this path has left an indelible mark, shaping her experiences as she ventured beyond her homeland and into a new world, navigating both friendships and conflicts. These encounters have tested her beliefs and motivations, enriching her artistic vision.
The displayed artworks weave a narrative of interconnectedness, highlighting how bonds can form across cultural and geographical divides. This exhibition celebrates the universal threads that link us all, transcending boundaries to reveal a shared human experience.
Maria Therese, also known as Tish Hautea, is a visual artist from the Philippines who is currently based in Melbourne. Her artistic focus is on mixed media, carving on wood, and etching on various surfaces. Tish’s art practice is deeply fueled by her fascination with individuals, cultures, and the complexities of human desires. Her creative concepts are inspired by the rich tapestry of conversations and interactions she has with people, reflecting the diverse experiences and insights she encounters.
Tish has exhibited her artwork in various countries including the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, Korea, and Australia. Her work is part of public collections such as the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia (2023), the ASEAN Cultural Center in Bangkok (2023), and the ASEAN Culture House in Busan (2023).
TWO WORLDS COLLIDE
Two Worlds Collide
TWO WORLDS COLLIDE bringing two worlds closer : a migrant and an artist.
Artist: Samantha Lord, Akshay Gandhi, Laura Bailey, Nandita Chakraborty, Rohit Bhasi and Shipra Anand
Embark on a groundbreaking journey through the senses with the world’s first "book to gallery" experience, inspired by the evocative memoir, "Dirty Little Secrets." This immersive event delves deep into the emotional and sensory landscapes of migration, masterfully bridging the two worlds of its author: the one she was born into and the one she now calls home.
Attendees will explore the artist's journey through touch, feel, and sound, gaining a profound perspective on the intricate tapestry of migration. This sensory odyssey invites visitors to connect intimately with the author's experiences, touching on the essence of what she has carried into her new life.
Internationally acclaimed artist Akshay Gandhi and the renowned creator of the book cover, Rohit Bhasi, will showcase their talents alongside esteemed local artists Laura Bailey, Shipra Anand, and Indigenous artist Samantha Lord.
Shipra Anand’s alpona or rangoli, renowned for its intricate patterns and vibrant colors, serves as a cultural bridge to the author's heritage. Through its tactile and visually striking presence in the exhibition, attendees can connect directly with the world the author was born into.
Conversely, Samantha Lord’s dot painting, with its meticulous detail and spiritual significance in Indigenous art, embodies a deep connection to land and cultural identity. This art form beautifully symbolizes the author's journey to a new home, weaving together her experiences into a new cultural context.
LAURA HERMAN
LIMITLESS
All I have ever wanted was to create something beautiful.
This profound desire drives my artistic journey, compelling me to weave together colours and movement into a captivating visual experience. In a world brimming with imagination and wonder, I strive to create pieces that transcend reality, offering viewers a glimpse into fantastical realms where beauty knows no bounds. Each artwork is a testament to the endless possibilities of creativity, an invitation to dream, and celebrate of the magic that exists both within and beyond our everyday lives.
Through my art, I hope to inspire others to see the extraordinary in the ordinary, to find joy in the act of creation, and to embrace the limitless potential of their own imaginations.
JANINE MCGUINNESS
Janine McGuinness is an Australian-born, contemporary Artist who holds numerous qualifications, including a Master of Contemporary Art from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA.) and, concurrently with her art practice, has a career in Social Psychology. Some of her career highlights in her art practice include being selected as a finalist for the 2022 William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize, being awarded the Galloway Lawson Prize, receiving the Alliance Francaise Group Exhibition award and the Tolarno Hotel VCA annual art award, and being listed for the (international) Lumen Prize longlist.
Her photographic-based art practice usually concerns the intertwined relationship of people, place, space and time and works often serve as metaphors for emotional and psychological experiences and concern suburbia and the everyday. Most recently, works are printed on archival, Japanese paper and use gold leaf to create highly textured, images that are both painterly and dimensional.
LEONA DEBOLT
"Seduced by the Winter Sun" celebrates the understated glow found in the quiet corners of a winter landscape. Leona DeBolt, is a regional emerging artist from the North Coast of NSW, Bundjalung Country. These autobiographical works capture the essence of fleeting moments of the artist's solstice days. Days spent following the warmth, flirting with the sun. Each scene is infused with a sense of looseness and movement. Despite each piece telling its own story, the series is unified by a vibrant palette and expressive thick textures. This exhibition invites viewers to savor the pleasures of the season, and embark on a visual adventure that promises to leave them bathed in the warmth of its radiance.
MELANIE THOREN
Melanie (she/her) is an emerging artist originally from Bendigo. Her work explores the nature of feminine identity within our constantly evolving society, using embroidery as a medium to question the historical use of textiles as a traditionally ‘female craft’. She particularly enjoys the use of vibrant colours and surrealist elements to make her art seem other-worldly. Elements of retro-futurism are also present in Melanie’s work, questioning the presence of technology in conjunction with feminism. Her works seeks to emphasising the human interactions of art creation, focusing on hand embellishments such as the addition of gold leaf and hand stitching. She draws inspiration from artists such as Mirka Mora, Frida Kahlo and Maria Lassnig.
LINDESAY DRESDON & SHEENA MATHIESON
MORE OR LESS
Lindesay Dresdon & Sheena Mathieson
Creating art is usually a solo, and sometimes lonely, journey so to find another person with whom one immediately connects on an artistic level can prove to be an invigorating and inspiring experience. One that requires trust, respect and an open mind to whatever the collaboration reveals.
Lindesay and Sheena first met in May 2023, having been admirers of each other’s work for some time. Their common aesthetic and lively conversations about art and process lead to this series of collaborative artworks.
‘We started this collaboration at the beginning of 2024. As a shared materials project, we exchanged a batch of papers and artworks which we then used to create individual works. These works developed and evolved during the year as we shared our observations and insights, and more materials.
The papers/surfaces were painted or printed upon or found from domestic sources. The limited palette was often challenging, but also liberating. Cut, torn and glued onto cardboard panels, the collage technique lent itself to our own intuitive and independent design work.
It was always a delightful surprise to see the similarities and differences when we revealed to each other our completed panels.’ In this body of work (and the process behind it) Sheena and Lindesay have developed a kind of language; a lyrical discourse, which has in turn inspired growth and innovation in their individual practices.
CATALOGUE
MORE OR LESS
Collaborative works by Sheena Mathieson and Lindesay Dresdon
VISCERA
VISCERA : Guts, embodiment, ritual and unrest.
Viscera finds common ground between four artists through ritual and catharsis in their explorations of subjectivity, communication and embodiment. With roots in expressionist and history painting, Bonnie, Paula, Ned and Sean both explore and reconcile with different states of being through their use of intuitive and experimental sculptural and painting practices.
As we position ourselves in a violent shifting political and ecological landscape, the brutality of Viscera aims to contribute to the normalisation of addressing discomfort, and in turn, the collective truth-telling that is crucial for our transition into a contemporary cultural landscape.
Sean is a Bachelor student at LCI Melbourne, Bonnie-Jean Whitlock and Paula Maggs are 2023 Master of Fine Art Graduates from RMIT, where Ned is a current student in the same program.
Support by Yarra City Arts
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LUCIJA ZAJA
The art I make is dedicated to exploring my mental landscapes. I am on the quest to understand myself, experiences that shaped me, my own personal as well as collective history, and the world we live in. My process of creating reflects the relationship between construction and deconstruction, chaos and order, frustration and peace, soft and aggressive. I’m exploring past, traumatic events and how they transpire through our everyday lives. The questions raised often refer to integration and awareness of trauma, and how these events linger in our lives, even more so if we try to ignore them. The paintings I make are an invitation to embrace our tragedies and demons, and allow all of our parts to stand together equally in order to understand ourselves better.
‘Arrival of the New Things’ 2024
Acrylic, gouache and pencil on canvas, 94 x 112 cm
NFS
ALANNA BAXTER
Alanna baxter’s sculptural, digital and print artworks delve into the essence of community care in a post-capitalist society. Her pieces explore the interconnected tiers of self, relationships, and home, extending to the broader global community. In the current zeitgeist, characterized by relentless pursuits of new frontiers and ownership, alanna’s work serves as a poignant counter-narrative. She envisions a grand shift toward communal care, where survival hinges on mutual aid and collective existence. Through toying with materiality and recontextualisation of forms alanna synthesizes these diverse elements into a cohesive sphere of care, advocating for a world where we see all children as our own and every community member as family. Her work resonates with the belief that true progress lies not in individual conquest but in the embrace of a unified, caring village. alanna’s art invites viewers to reimagine a society where interconnectedness and shared responsibility are the cornerstones of our existence. The selected works juxtapose Western nuclear and monogamous fictions with multi-tiered models of love.
We are Not Spectators, digital print on plywood, 59.5x84.1cm $345
You’re My Only, gouache, coloured pencil, ink, digital print, greylead, and luminous spray paint on repurposed wood, 30x66cm. $299
Something Real, Wax and soap, dimensions vary NFS
JAKUB FABIJAŃSKI
JAKUB FABIJAŃSKI | PORTRAITS
With an innate passion for capturing the essence of individuals through photography, Jakub's journey into the world of portraiture began as a personal exploration of human expression and connection. Through careful composition and an intuitive understanding of light, he creates portraits that resonate with depth and emotional authenticity. Often approaching his subjects on the streets, he establishes a quick rapport that enables him to capture genuine expressions, reflecting the true essence of individuals. His choice of using black and white film through medium and large format cameras allows for unparalleled detail and clarity but also imbue his subjects with a distinctive visual richness and depth, enhancing the immersive quality of his portraits.
Jakub Fabijański is a Gippsland-based photographer. His work focuses on documenting his family's life, picturesque landscapes, and expressive portraits. Primarily drawn to black and white film photography, Jakub's work exudes a timeless quality, emphasizing contrasts and textures that evoke a sense of nostalgia and raw authenticity. His work not only showcases the charm and simplicity of rural living but also reflects his profound connection to nature and people. Jakub's portfolio shines with intimate portraits that reveal the depth of emotion and character in his subjects.
MERT BERDILEK
Tersine Göç | Reverse Migration - Photography by Mert Berdilek
After traversing 8000km+ on road across Türkiye, a project was born by photographer Mert Berdilek, on how the country has changed, or hasn't since its formation 100 years ago. Shot solely on medium-format film, Tersine Göç ('Reverse Migration' in Turkish) is a journey into the heart of a country and its people. Where the lines of past and present are blurred. Where in some of the most remote locations, that elusive purity in humanity we're searching for as artists, is found, even if it were for just a fleeting moment.
Mert Berdilek, is a Melbourne based Australian-Turkish Photographer & Filmmaker. Mert's work focuses on returning to his roots, for artistic exploration on core themes experienced by many migrant children living in diaspora. Mert's two major projects in 2024 address the same concept of "Reverse Migration" in two different mediums. Tersine Göç ('Reverse Migration' in Turkish) is a documentary portrait photography project shot from West to East Türkiye, and Geride Kalanlar ('The Remains' in Turkish) is a debut feature film project, entering production in December 2024, during winter in Eastern Türkiye.
Support by Yarra City Arts
CATALOGUE
Tersine Göç | Reverse Migration
Price POA
TRIANGLE PROJECT
Art Exchange program offers an invaluable opportunity for Thai and Korean artists to enrich their perspectives, collaborate, and immerse themselves in the vibrant Australian culture. Participating artists will not only showcase their work but also engage in workshops, fostering a dynamic cultural exchange at the gallery.
Thai - Korean artist
Thosaphorn Sutham
Panchaluk Hareerak
Somporn Bhurichotitham
Kanokporn Hareerak
Lee In
Park Chiho,
An Haekyung
Lee Jiyun
SHAWN LU
Shawn Lu’s captivating works transport viewers to enchanting old European landscapes and fairy tales, where pastoral characters coexist with vintage automobiles, standing strong against the elements and an unknown future. His mural art, characterized by intricate monochromatic details, reflects his ambition to magnify his artistic prowess beyond the intricate pen and ink drawings he is known for.
Having travelled extensively through Eastern Europe and the Tasmanian West Coast, Lu’s detailed murals are inspired by the rugged landscape and nature that exists in those areas. His works are also informed by global events of economic downturn and the entropy and abandonment these events create. Lu's artistic vision beautifully captures the intersection of nature's raw beauty and the harsh realities of economic challenges, creating a poignant commentary on the world we inhabit.
CRAIG COLE
Craig Cole showcases stunning paintings and drawings that draw inspiration from the vibrant world of graffiti artists. Through his art, he skillfully portrays the environments where these artists unleash their creativity, shedding light on the lesser-known corners of Melbourne.
Cole has a special talent for connecting street art with fine art. Having grown up in Melbourne's suburbs as a graffiti artist, he possesses a deep understanding of this hidden world. Through his skill and creative choices, Cole adeptly captures the essences of this underground culture with a profound and sentimental touch.