'on EST (we ARE)' Solo Show

My proposal for a solo show "on EST (we ARE)" at Kudos Gallery has been accepted! The show will run for two weeks from the 9-20 June. Finally the day has come for me to show all my Stitched in Space works. Ever since I started the series, I have been very anxious about parting with any of the works before they were exhibited all together as a family, as I felt they shared such a strong bond, that detached from this community they would suffer.

I'll also be showing my Fluidity series, and other drawing/oil portraits. I haven't done a portrait for 2 months (a long time!) so I might start working on new series for the show.

'on EST (we ARE)' is a show about humanity's increasing vulnerability and our cannabilistic attitude to images, particularly of humans. In the works, I have attempted to depict a raw humanity, yearning for meaning, in order to confront an audience on their mirroring vulnerability.

'on EST, French for 'we are' becomes 'honest' when pronouced in English. This honesty should be irresistable, as with the claim that these people exist-they 'are'. But this isn't always the case.

StarGazing and SpiderWebs

My Stitched in Space 'gaze' portraits at Hardware Gallery.


A close-up of Clare, Jess and Rachel.

We had the artist talks at Hardware Gallery today from 3-5, and I met some really interesting artists. We talked about our practices and it was fascinating how everyone approaches art, from their methodology, to their techniques, to their thoughts; to end up with a final product-an artwork. And whilst doing my research on other artists, I have begun questioning everything-why they chose that material over another, what it symbolises to them, why they placed it there, why that colour, why that orientation, why this, why that. And due to my current project being driven conceptually, I find that this questioning of every finite detail is being echoed in my work. Everything has meaning and to neglect this truth is like neglecting an artwork.

I have several works that I have spent days and nights sketching out and thinking over, such as a door-mat of felted hair, placed outside the space, that people must walk on in order to enter the space. I started felting this week-also a lot of fun, but it requires a lot of hair and I need more of it!

In the midst of all of this, a very talented artist friend of mine has been webbing his mark out the front of my house. This spider has been making spider webs just under a meter in diameter, on my path between my door and gate. It's actually been rather wonderful. My family has been bending right down to avoid breaking the web and in so doing cover themselves with the sticky fibres. We have gone a few days without touching it, however as I have been observing, if the web is torn down, it is up again by the next day, in another fabulous formation. Thus after having destroyed it today, I expect to see another one tomorrow. It's a reminder that these creatures exist, that we humans aren't the only ones here!



My talented spider's creation. There's a lot for me to learn about his intricate technique!

Weaving with hair, dinner for two

I learnt how to weave yesterday, and fell in love.
Here are some shots of my studio- it continues to change.


Hairy business.


Dinner for two in progress...




Weaving with long asian human hair on the loom.

Isn't this amazing- all the various types of hair.

A project I'm working on of me and my sisters. I've removed our faces (that which identifies us) and replaced it with 3 shades of hair.

My first hair weaving-there's a dread in there!

Tighter weaving.

Hanging...

The incredible loom.

Multiple glad wrap covered bundles of hair.

Close up of pocket with hair coming out.

Jenny Birt Award and Stargazing Exhibitions

My works in the Jenny Birt Award, from the 'Stitched in Space' (07-09) series.

Tonight was the opening for the Jenny Birt Award. I felt really honored to be exhibiting amongst such talented artists whose work I really admire. I have 4 works in the show, created over 2007-8, 4 of my favourite works from my Stitched in Space series. I received a lot of great feedback, and overall it was a wonderful night with lots of people and great food/drinks- thank you CoFA! The show runs Tues-Thurs this week from 10-4pm, if you couldn't make the opening, it's worth the ride over to CoFA.

And on Saturday I had 3 works in "StarGazing" at Hardware Gallery. Another splendid exhibition, a pleasure to be a part of. The gallery space is really beautiful which makes such a difference, and the works I felt really complemented each other. The show runs until the 18th April (open hrs Tues-Sat 11-5pm). Check it out!

I'll try upload shots of the show, as soon as I get some.

My work is progressing, I haven't been able to stop my brain from thinking, it's on constantly and although it's tiring, it's exhilerating having so many ideas. I've got a few film projects I'm hoping to get off the ground as soon as I find people who have long hair- a difficult task. People tend to cut their hair in different shorter styles, or pay hundreds to get extensions on their already short hair -love the extremes, however it's not helping me out. I find myself staring at people with long hair, trying to locate these rare individuals. In fact, today whilst on the bus to uni, I saw the same woman I'd seen yesterday at Central, who was rather distinctive with her long red hair. It would've been at least 60cm, just gorgeous.

My work is currently looking at disembodied hair being representative of the various consequences of relationships breaking down. Although this is predominantly a symbolic conceptual link, it is also a literal one where there is tendency for people to cut/restyle/dye their hair after a breakup. It is a sort of cleansing of oneself, through the physical act of removing the time/length of hair spent with someone else. It seems almost to be inherent. It's really fascinating. Psychology will help inform me on the different reactions people experience in relationship breakups.

It's looking good- I'm getting a better understanding on the many ways that hair can be manipulated. It's a medium with a never-ending potential.

Experiments with hair

Here are some more experiments I have been working on with hair:





















Studio installation shot.



A mobile created from hair structures of short hair bonded together with spray glue in fairly thin mats.

Mat of hair sticking to window, can see the sky-different angles/different backdrops.

Installation shot of several hair mats.




Fairy lights in suspending structure that can be moved up and down with 2 pulley systems. Also long beautiful healthy asian hair hanging on wall that I received from a student Cassie who'd been saving it for nearly 20 years.