Steven Rhall | Blog

Updates. Ephemera. Some writing. Idea repository. News. stevenrhall.com

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10 moments from #sixmomentsinkingston (at Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Lcg00AE5A/?igshid=1szqx4ez32o13

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Grateful for the chance to work with @_athletica and @this_mob for what is this @blindside_ari’s First Nation Exhibition Program for 2109. Very generally speaking, mainstream spaces inherit and perform frameworks which makes working within or with them unsafe spaces for Mob, even with ‘best intentions.’ ‘Opportunities for Artists’ uses this framework in different ways to explore this mobs’ current use of @Westspace as a potential example of a healthier, more equitable and ‘safe’ relationship in the generation and potential presentation of art. I’ve come to use the Blindside space as a figurative lens in both tracking this idea and as physically manifesting the unseen layers, negotiations and experiences within the former. I’m sitting Blindside today 12-6 if you’d like to know more! (at BLINDSIDE) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0HYJZiAGoR/?igshid=pljr9hdgzgdm

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As part of ‘Opportunities for Artists’ we are live-streaming 2 streams from @westspace to 2 screens installed @blindside_ari AND *worldwide* on the interwebs via @Youtube. Given there are 2 streams the (working) link to the ‘roaming cam’ (for @this_mob to stream what they please) will be in my bio here. The ‘fixed’ cam will be accessible (once up and running) via the bio link @new_agency_ ***also to note, the ‘opening’ is occurring @blindside_ari. Any access to @westspace as part of the @this_mob take over will be broadcast via the @this_mob account. I think that’s right! 🤔😅 (at West Space) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz9cUmYA_qx/?igshid=pwbrixxpoztf

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This week sees 𝘖𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 formally commence, an exciting project I’ve been working on with @_athletica. Framed by @this_mob’s current use of @WestSpace, @Blindside as form performs in response to ideas of culturally un/safe spaces, ‘inclusion’ and equity in exhibition based opportunities for First Nation people. Opens Thursday at 6! This project also introduces @new_agency_ Largely based around a space I’ve taken on in Kensington to house my studio / expand my practice via exhibition/gallery as form, New Agency will also present projects of the broader community and (somewhat budget contingent at this point) a residency program for Emerging First Nation practitioners. (at Live Streaming) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz6pCcFA0NJ/?igshid=zyb3qbamn2k8

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Contributing to 𝘝𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘲𝘶𝘺, curated by @sternjoel and currently the 2019 @GertrudeContemporary ‘Octopus’ (guest curated) project, has been interesting concerning ideas of ventriloquy and the presentation of art by First Nation peoples. Here's some context including (swipe left) how I'm currently ventriloquising the gallery from afar (although we need distance to make Ventriloquy possible, right?)⁣ ⁣ 𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘳𝘵 𝘈𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴⁣ Installation, dimensions variable (2019)⁣ Opening event performance ('Aboriginal artist' as ventriloquy doll) images, including @simonzoric’s work. ⁣ ⁣ _____ _ _ _⁣ Centred within the encounter of art and audience, 𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘳𝘵 𝘈𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 critiques traditional exhibition modalities in the presentation of art by First Nation peoples. This work positions gallery, artwork and audience upon a figurative stage, borne by a framework of hierarchy and power. Upon this stage, measures of agency are apportioned (to each performer) through negotiations of activation – expressed as ideas of support, response, and affect.⁣ ⁣ How are elements within an exhibitionary framework (of art, audience and gallery) interdependent on activation and the formation of performative roles particular to each body (and their associated traditions within said framework)? How does each performer express themselves via the body of (each) other? 𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘳𝘵 𝘈𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 uses ideas of activation and stasis within the architectural and institutional body of the gallery to both approximate this framework and associated ideas of affect. (at Somewhere Between Here And There) https://www.instagram.com/p/By_wL1hAYf_/?igshid=fyp1mol91ihb

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I’m sorry... but I had a fucking amazing time working with @marceescudero.g @glamshanks & @ezzmonem (w @davidantcross & #cameronBishop as supports) last month in this work as part of #sixmomentsinkingston. Thanks Ezz for this unexpected cute vid and @kingstonartsau for the opportunity! (at Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/By48QJvg9wO/?igshid=o4k20p4hthmy

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It’s alive! 𝘈𝘪𝘳 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘉𝘰𝘥𝘺 (𝘉𝘢𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘪 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯) can be encountered @dark_mofo as part of ‘A Forest,’ opening tonight in Nipaluna Hobart. ⁣ ⁣ 𝘈𝘪𝘳 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘉𝘰𝘥𝘺 (𝘉𝘢𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘪 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯) critically responds to figurative ‘black bodies’ within dominant exhibition and curatorial frameworks. Within this space, First Nation art practice often arrives to operate across two modalities: the artwork as liberated yet restrained by bureaucracy, it performs yet is tired and tropiac, the work may be of affect yet is fetishsised. These various dualities contributing to a third space of competing intentions and tension reflected in the idea of the pharmakon. ⁣ ⁣ Rather than to ‘cure’ an artwork through curation, the presented work as pharmakon has traces of both remedy and poison, finding itself ill – borne from motions of the colonial project as triggered by a public. Represented as curator and audience, the public are main constituents of the ‘exhibition’ thereby perfect conduits and carriers of the colonial parasite. This parasite thrives in the ambiguity of the third space, finding new carriers in the body of both the public and artwork, replicating itself with each encounter. ⁣ ⁣ Opposed to its predecessor, 𝘉𝘢𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘪 has developed a capacity of self awareness, coming to performing the third space and ideas of both an infestation and a casting of the parasite from its body. ⁣ ⁣ > this work is presented by @liquid_architecture for #darkmofo2019 https://www.instagram.com/p/BylkSnWAAd5/?igshid=1mlyc4o1q41nn

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I didn’t ask anyone to hug a tree but when you’re workshopping, anything can happen! I had the pleasure of working with the young people of the ‘Kingston Koorie Mob’ today on a collaborative public artwork – soon to be installed at the Kingston town hall. This small project contributes to is in the larger ‘𝘚𝘪𝘹 𝘔𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯’ public artwork tour happening soon! Read all the details below 👇⁣ ⁣ #regram from @kingstonartsau - The countdown is on! Join the biggest, boldest contemporary public art program ever seen in Kingston – it features a curated bus tour, new music, video, sculpture and performance works dotted throughout the municipality. ・⁣ ・⁣ ・⁣ The six artists selected and inspired by these significant moments include video artist and animator Laresa Kosloff, craftivist Tal Fitzpatrick, curator and artist Spiros Panigirakis, multidisciplinary collective Field Theory, conceptual artist Steven Rhall, and performance artist Shane McGrath. Curated by David Cross and Cameron Bishop. Supported by @creative_vic through the Creative Suburbs program.⁣ ・⁣ ・⁣ ・⁣ Visit smik.melbourne for more info and to book your ticket!⁣ ・⁣ ・⁣ ・⁣ ・⁣ ・⁣ #smik2019 #sixmomentsinkingston #cityofkingston #kingstonarts #visualarts #contemporaryart #publicart #performance @laresa.kosloff @talfitzpatrick @s_rhall_studio @_fieldtheory @mcgrathstudio @davidantcross (at Kingston Arts) https://www.instagram.com/s_rhall_studio/p/Bw8r62DFGKZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rdzi0lyvofof

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Major opportunity to work with @tarrawarrama as part of the #Yalingwa initiative #artjobs (at TarraWarra Museum of Art) https://www.instagram.com/s_rhall_studio/p/Bu0YMPwlavg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=18dhqjexc61s2

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Next week sees two light emitting diode based works form part of two concurrent exhibitions, both opening Thursday at 6pm. Existing work 'Every 1's a Winger (Bingo Mode)' contributes to the @katejustknits curated 'National Anthem' @buxton_contemporary and new work 'You make this. You make me' in the @alyceneal curated 'The Medium is Public' @blindside_ari #LEDoeuvre https://www.instagram.com/p/BufVUV6l8SW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=oqlcxx4qhy53

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https://www.sheppnews.com.au/@lifestyle/2019/02/22/456311/galleries1111-drawing-explores-family-links#2

A recent commision in the local Shepparton paper.

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Arrived in Shep (as it is known colloquially) for a @sam_shepparton commission forming in complete opposition to these images – at least in terms of colour. Perhaps I'm getting all of 'that' out of my system now in order to eradicate or withhold qualities of an artwork which traditionally assist in the purpose of presence (usually found through contrast, or difference?). ⁣ ⁣ However, as the works' title may suggest 'At this site' does share a geography. With displacement an oberarching theme, the works' narrative correlates to my sporadic visits over the years. Still thinking this through, and grateful for the support of @yortayortadorta & @lara_merrington in doing so. Good to be here though. Now more than ever. Lived in Shep briefly as a young person and the Pizza Hut still remains, offering one of the few dine-in opportunities in the state. ⁣ ⁣ #atthissite ⁣ #whathappenedtowendys ⁣ #seeyouatthesoftserve (at Shepparton, Victoria) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuBbR4OlGXU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6b2i3074j4ar

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Woke up like dis

I can't put a name to the feeling exactly but when you return to a place of your past there are memories but, also sensing the presence of 'a future.' Perhaps it could be thought of as the experience of a memory – which might even be labelled something like nostalgia or similar. Nostalgia itself though has various connotations of a yearning, maybe a longing and perhaps sometimes, a regret. That's not quite what THIS feeling is. Looking forward. Looking back. This weekend’s experience of housesitting (where I lived a few years ago) seems to have given a rise to some sense of a future — given the hindsight of a of past. It    is  a  bit  weird. Like using a crystal ball but enabled with a past used as a lens to a future. Here I can take my 'present self' to times of the past through being in this space... sitting at the same table on my 40th birthday, I was so (too) keen, we shared wine — I was to eventually learn both my relationship with that person and the wine/alcohol were ultimately  doomed — so some sort of reconciliation occurs here, in a way. Maybe the present gives us the chance to use hindsight as a 'past self', using this experience through memory as a lens for a future. I think that's what is happening – with associated feeling as just part of what is going on. Or maybe the feelings could be thought of as just a residue of this process. Anyhoo. If I visit here again in a year or so I'll let you know how this has gone, taking another bath where I soaked in the experience of the present, where the past nor future mattered.

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I went full photo nerd for the 100th issue of @photofilemagazine in an interview with the lovely Maree Clarke earlier this year. Thanks @axelent for sending a copy 📩👌 #fullphoto #photocentric

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“The first art museums... collected all sorts of “beautiful” functional objects previously used for religious rites, interior decoration, or manifestations of personal wealth, and exhibited them as works of art, that is, as defunctionalized autonomous objects set up for the mere purpose of being viewed.” Boris Groys. . . I’m excited to announce ‘DEFUNCTIONALISED AUTONOMOUS OBJECTS’ will be presented by @thesubstation in October this year as part of both their 2018 commissioning program and this years’ @melbfestival. This project has been made possible with the support of @creative_vic (and a whole bunch of other people).

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Grateful to contribute @un_projects current issue concerning ideas about decolonisation – some of which are driving my current research @monashada. The entire issue is online at unprojects.org.au. Check it out! More details about my contribution are on my website which I’ve just relaunched from scratch (yet am still slowly populating link in bio). Thanks @optomefist and @adiosbanana for the open brief / opportunity, Katherine Botton, Mum for use of the scanner and @ahoyjess who assisted in making ‘Cory.’ Cool also to find a serendipitous link in materiality with fellow contributor @deean.cross cheers bruz #decolonize #discourse #TehchingHsieh

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#MCAKIDS DO @biennalesydney 1. Luke 2. @gerglei_1.0 and @ezzmonem Vs @marmadukelee & Luke. I forgot who one this one. 3. The artist to watch (even if only leaning on something) @raviavasti 4. @gerglei_1.0 doing Sydney right with French Pastries on arrival 5. Team MCA @mca_australia pre the arrival of some stragglers. 6. The last work I saw and most affecting of the whole trip ‘Tall Man’ 2010 by @waanjiman (as part of a seperate exhibition).