Download the catalogue for The Warmth of the Curve, including essay by Evangelos Sakaris - ‘The world is contracted thus: enchantment, disenchantment, re-enchantment’, 2012
16.5.12
Some reflections on the development
of The Warmth of the Curve:
de-worldling and relationship to objects, May 2012
I
was working on the current project (The Warmth of the Curve) while in
the middle of another performance work, 33 Chilean miners—a work which
involved fasting from sunlight for seventy days, one year after the mining
accident in Chile. During this time I lived the life of a shut-in, in a house
whose every window was boarded up and remained indoors between first and last
light everyday for the seventy day performance.
On
one of these days well into the project, I was intensively researching circumambulation
rituals and one day something dawned on me, and I began to search the house for
objects, for things that “overlapped” with the stories of circumambulation;
things I could “interpret” and sourced purely from my immediate surrounds. I
was spending the majority of my time within a restricted space – my
relationship to “things”, to “objects in the world” shifted.
Walking
through the house looking for objects, things ‘popped out’ again and again. I
collected these objects and set them aside, covering the surface of a table.
These objects began to take on a new gravity and significance that was
previously absent (or perhaps invisible). Objects were somehow magnified. They
included an icon (deity), an image of my parents (Ganesha’s universe), a fruit
(seed), an egg (new life), cooking pots (as holders of plentiful food
offerings), glass of water (miniaturised baptismal font), candle (fire), stool
(altar) …..
Later
the same day, once the sun had set and I was able to leave the house, I went
for a walk to meet a friend for coffee, I was in a state of heightened
awareness and the ‘magnification of things’ continued as I left the house. A
cricket was chirping loudly in the front yard, a cat sat still on the porch of
a neighbour’s house, a tree planted in the middle of a traffic roundabout – all
just asking to be walked around. I continued walking and observed a baby
in a pram, cylindrical poles and street lamps, a perfectly circular teapot,
café umbrellas; suddenly I was overwhelmed with the potentiality of objects,
living and inanimate, I could not look at anything as I had before, objects did
not recede and disappear into the world.
23.2.12
The Warmth of the Curve, 2012
The Warmth of the Curve is a series of new performance, video and installation works which explore the ritual of walking around a sacred object, drawing the form of a circle in space (circumambulation). The Warmth of the Curve proposes the possibility of inhabiting ritual in a secular context. By exploring ideas that are generally overlooked in the world of the everyday and secular society, this project opens a space for ideas such as residual belief and the loss of the mystical.
This project is presented by the 2012 Next Wave Festival
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Image: Experiment for The Warmth of the Curve, Digital Photography, 2011
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The Warmth of the Curve is a series of new performance, video and installation works which explore the ritual of walking around a sacred object, drawing the form of a circle in space (circumambulation). The Warmth of the Curve proposes the possibility of inhabiting ritual in a secular context. By exploring ideas that are generally overlooked in the world of the everyday and secular society, this project opens a space for ideas such as residual belief and the loss of the mystical.
This project is presented by the 2012 Next Wave Festival
Opening: Thursday 17 May 5 pm - 7 pm
Exhibition Dates: 17 May - June 2
Location: BUS Projects Basement Level, Donkey Wheel House,
673 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Gallery hours: 12pm - 6pm
Gallery open daily 17 – 27 May, then Wednesday to Saturday until June 2
Gallery open daily 17 – 27 May, then Wednesday to Saturday until June 2
10.1.12
Theophany, 2012
Theophany is a new site-specific work created for White Street Project in Frankston. Video Screening from January 31 - February 13 at Frankston Library (60 Playne Street, Frankston). Library open Monday – Sunday. More here
Theophany is a new site-specific work created for White Street Project in Frankston. Video Screening from January 31 - February 13 at Frankston Library (60 Playne Street, Frankston). Library open Monday – Sunday. More here
1.8.11
First Light, 2011
From the 5th of August until the 13th of October 2010, 33 Chilean miners were trapped underground. From the 5th of August until the 13th of October 2011, I will not see the light of day. Over this period of 70 days I will not see sunlight. For the purposes of this work sunlight refers to direct light from the sun (while it is above the horizon) between the hours of first light and last light. During this period of time my house will be “boarded up”, with all windows, doors and gaps sealed. I will remain within the house between first light and last light each day. This projects is being developed to be presented in the form of an artists book in 2012 - 2013.
From the 5th of August until the 13th of October 2010, 33 Chilean miners were trapped underground. From the 5th of August until the 13th of October 2011, I will not see the light of day. Over this period of 70 days I will not see sunlight. For the purposes of this work sunlight refers to direct light from the sun (while it is above the horizon) between the hours of first light and last light. During this period of time my house will be “boarded up”, with all windows, doors and gaps sealed. I will remain within the house between first light and last light each day. This projects is being developed to be presented in the form of an artists book in 2012 - 2013.
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Above Images: First Light, Performance, 2011 |
25.6.11
Architectures, 2011
Works from the series Architectures, 2011, in the exhibition Create the Example at Platfrom Art Space, Curated by Joanna Gould and Brooke Tia Silcox as part of the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival. Exhibiton opens May 6, from 6pm - 9pm and runs until the 27th of May.
See Images of the Exhibition
Works from the series Architectures, 2011, in the exhibition Create the Example at Platfrom Art Space, Curated by Joanna Gould and Brooke Tia Silcox as part of the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival. Exhibiton opens May 6, from 6pm - 9pm and runs until the 27th of May.
See Images of the Exhibition
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| Image: Architectures, Compacted soil, 2011 |
8.2.11
5.1.11
Architectures, 2011
Solo exhibition at Rear View Gallery, February 4 – 25 (Opening Feb 4 from 7 – 9 pm)
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Architectures is an ephemeral installation comprised of architectural miniatures created from compacted earth. The miniatures are modelled on particular pieces of religious architecture (churches, mosques, synagogues and temples). The disparity between the small ephemeral soil sculptures and the monumental edifices, on which they are modelled, considers the drive for wholeness at the core of belief systems.
See Images of the Exhibition / Read the Catalouge Essay
Rear View Gallery - Rear 244 Smith Street Collingwood, Melbourne
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| Above images: Experiment for Architectures, compacted earth, digital photography, 2010 |
Solo exhibition at Rear View Gallery, February 4 – 25 (Opening Feb 4 from 7 – 9 pm)
_
Architectures is an ephemeral installation comprised of architectural miniatures created from compacted earth. The miniatures are modelled on particular pieces of religious architecture (churches, mosques, synagogues and temples). The disparity between the small ephemeral soil sculptures and the monumental edifices, on which they are modelled, considers the drive for wholeness at the core of belief systems.
See Images of the Exhibition / Read the Catalouge Essay
Rear View Gallery - Rear 244 Smith Street Collingwood, Melbourne
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6.10.10
The 59th Blake Prize Touring Exhibition, 2010 - 2011
23 Oct - 28 Nov, 2010
Adelaide Festival Centre
http://www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/
King William Rd, Adelaide SA 5000
30 Jan - 27 Feb, 2011
Delmar Trinity Gallery
http://www.trinity.nsw.edu.au/
144 Victoria Street, Ashfield NSW 2131
18 Mar - 21 Apr, 2011
Kinross House, Uniting Arts Toorak
http://toorak.unitingchurch.org.au/indexu.htm
603 Toorak Road, Toorak VIC 3142
25 May - 3 Jul, 2011
Grafton Regional Gallery
http://www.graftongallery.nsw.gov.au/
158 Fitzroy Street, Grafton NSW 2460
30 July - 8 Sept 2011
The Schoolhouse Gallery
http://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=670
30 Bligh Street, Rosny Park TAS 7018
23 Oct - 28 Nov, 2010
Adelaide Festival Centre
http://www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/
King William Rd, Adelaide SA 5000
30 Jan - 27 Feb, 2011
Delmar Trinity Gallery
http://www.trinity.nsw.edu.au/
144 Victoria Street, Ashfield NSW 2131
18 Mar - 21 Apr, 2011
Kinross House, Uniting Arts Toorak
http://toorak.unitingchurch.org.au/indexu.htm
603 Toorak Road, Toorak VIC 3142
25 May - 3 Jul, 2011
Grafton Regional Gallery
http://www.graftongallery.nsw.gov.au/
158 Fitzroy Street, Grafton NSW 2460
30 July - 8 Sept 2011
The Schoolhouse Gallery
http://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=670
30 Bligh Street, Rosny Park TAS 7018
3.9.10
Winner of John Coburn Emerging Artist Award
Font, 2009-2010, has won this year's John Coburn Emerging Artist Award as part of the 59th Blake Prize Exhibition.
Read the Judges Comments in full / Watch an interview
Font, 2009-2010, has won this year's John Coburn Emerging Artist Award as part of the 59th Blake Prize Exhibition.
Judges Comments: The John Coburn Emerging Artist Award went to Michelle Sakaris' Font, an imaginative and dramatic work which through the manipulation of scale and angle of vision draws a parallel between a humble eggcup and a baptismal font. It is a clever and imaginative work which operates on many levels of association.The work is currently on exhibition at the National Art School Gallery, Cnr Forbes and Burton Sts, Darlinghurst, NSW - until October 2. The exhibition will be touring around Australia in 2010 and 2011.
Read the Judges Comments in full / Watch an interview
26.8.10
Font, 2009 - 2010
In this work a domestic eggcup is transformed into a baptismal font through the manipulation of scale. The eggcup mimics the appearance of a baptismal font and displaces the concept of the font with contrary associations. The sacredness of the font is negated through its association with the everyday, while the eggcup gains potency through its association to font.
In this work a domestic eggcup is transformed into a baptismal font through the manipulation of scale. The eggcup mimics the appearance of a baptismal font and displaces the concept of the font with contrary associations. The sacredness of the font is negated through its association with the everyday, while the eggcup gains potency through its association to font.
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| Image: Font, 2009-2010, inkjet print on paper, 150cm x 90cm |
20.8.10
Peripheral Vision
Works by Amelia Johannes, DongWoo Kang, Evangelos Sakaris, Michelle Sakaris and Emma Waheed.
Read the Exhibition Text / Read a review on the blog Artitute by Joleen Loh
Works by Amelia Johannes, DongWoo Kang, Evangelos Sakaris, Michelle Sakaris and Emma Waheed.
Read the Exhibition Text / Read a review on the blog Artitute by Joleen Loh
15.7.10
Peripheral Vision, 25 August – 4 September, 2010
Image: Evangelos Sakaris, Forty Votives, 2008, Charcoal (the carbonised Wings of June and May) on paper, dimensions variable
Amelia Johannes, DongWoo Kang, Evangelos Sakaris, Michelle Sakaris and Emma Waheed. Curated by Michelle Sakaris.
Peripheral Vision draws together artists from diverse backgrounds whose cultural otherness is fundamental to their practice. The artists share in common the incorporation of personal biography and ritual as a means of exploring difference.
George Paton Gallery, Second Floor Union House, University of Melbourne, Parkville
6.6.10
5.5.10
Commission for Piccolo Architects
Call to Intimacy, 2006, Light-well artwork, semi-permanent commission for Piccolo Architects, photographic transfers on glass (each image is 1800 cm x 300cm) located at 139 Bouverie St, Carlton.
Call to Intimacy, 2006, Light-well artwork, semi-permanent commission for Piccolo Architects, photographic transfers on glass (each image is 1800 cm x 300cm) located at 139 Bouverie St, Carlton.
