The Guardian Australia: Fiona Foley’s art of the uncomfortable: ‘I wanted to provoke a conversation about racism’

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The Guardian Australia: Fiona Foley’s art of the uncomfortable: ‘I wanted to provoke a conversation about racism’

2020-01-08

by Danielle Neely

Article by Larissa Behrendt

“The 30-year career of this soft-spoken but fiercely intellectual artist is one of reclaiming Indigenous identities and rewriting history”.

NAS alumna Dr Fiona Foley speaks with The Guardian Australia and unpacked the meaning behind her work in the lead up to the opening of Who are these strangers and where are they going? at National Art School.

Image: Fiona Foley, The Oyster Fisherman 1, 2011, Ultrachrome print on paper edition of 15, 60 x 80cm © the artist. Courtesy the artist and Niagara Galleries, Melbourne

Introducing Maram Hassan Al-Zaidi @maram_hassan52, Bruno Bersten @bruno_bersten and Kika Baker @k1kakereru, three of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Maram Hassan Al-Zaidi, ‘Dance of the Soul’, 2024, raku clay, glaze, silk abaya, glass, 60 x 35 x 20cm.
Bruno Bersten, ‘Amalgam Effigies’, 2024, mixed media, 100 x 50 x 10cm.
Kika Baker, ‘Diablo Red’, 2024, bonnet and fabric, 100 x 145cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

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Nov 22

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Introducing Maram Hassan Al-Zaidi @maram_hassan52, Bruno Bersten @bruno_bersten and Kika Baker @k1kakereru, three of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Maram Hassan Al-Zaidi, ‘Dance of the Soul’, 2024, raku clay, glaze, silk abaya, glass, 60 x 35 x 20cm.
Bruno Bersten, ‘Amalgam Effigies’, 2024, mixed media, 100 x 50 x 10cm.
Kika Baker, ‘Diablo Red’, 2024, bonnet and fabric, 100 x 145cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Introducing Grace Buckley @louisegracearts, Samuel Chan @__szwc, Olivia Lindgaard @olivialindgaaaard and Cooper Holland-Hughes @_cooper_hh_, four of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Grace Buckley, ‘Tassel Girl’, 2024, found stool, upholstery, pins, thread, fringe, 40 x 33 x 35cm.
Samuel Chan, ‘Embrace’, 2024, resin, stainless steel meat hook, 47 x 14.5 x 9.5cm.
Olivia Lindgaard, ‘Asphyxiated’, 2024, wood and plastic, dimensions variable.
Cooper Holland-Hughes, ‘Machine for Feeling’, 2024, found object, ceramic, dimensions variable.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

View

Nov 22

Open

Introducing Grace Buckley @louisegracearts, Samuel Chan @__szwc, Olivia Lindgaard @olivialindgaaaard and Cooper Holland-Hughes @_cooper_hh_, four of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Grace Buckley, ‘Tassel Girl’, 2024, found stool, upholstery, pins, thread, fringe, 40 x 33 x 35cm.
Samuel Chan, ‘Embrace’, 2024, resin, stainless steel meat hook, 47 x 14.5 x 9.5cm.
Olivia Lindgaard, ‘Asphyxiated’, 2024, wood and plastic, dimensions variable.
Cooper Holland-Hughes, ‘Machine for Feeling’, 2024, found object, ceramic, dimensions variable.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Introducing Trey Martin @sadisticpaintbrush, Ruby McVicar @tyropa, Nikki Poulos @nikkipoulos_ and Adelash Parsons @adelashparsons, four of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Trey Martin, ‘Effigy Peaks’, 2024, ceramic, 29 x 30 x 25cm.
Ruby McVicar, ‘Comforts’, 2024, wooden chair, stones, 100 x 45 x 45cm.
Nikki Poulos, ‘This is not an artwork’, 2024, found object, text, 110 x 40 x 40cm.
Adelash Parsons, ‘Untitled’, 2024, mixed media, dimensions variable.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

View

Nov 22

Open

Introducing Trey Martin @sadisticpaintbrush, Ruby McVicar @tyropa, Nikki Poulos @nikkipoulos_ and Adelash Parsons @adelashparsons, four of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Trey Martin, ‘Effigy Peaks’, 2024, ceramic, 29 x 30 x 25cm.
Ruby McVicar, ‘Comforts’, 2024, wooden chair, stones, 100 x 45 x 45cm.
Nikki Poulos, ‘This is not an artwork’, 2024, found object, text, 110 x 40 x 40cm.
Adelash Parsons, ‘Untitled’, 2024, mixed media, dimensions variable.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Introducing Ruby Quoyle @rubbadubbaboo.2, Amelia Rose @rrose_amelia and Jeremy Rotenstein @artofishal, three of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Ruby Quoyle, ‘Tracy’, 2024, plastic chair, wig, 83 x 49 x 52cm.
Amelia Rose, ‘Unruly Possession’, 2024, soy wax, glass, London plane tree pollen, dirt, copper, synthetic pillow, polyethylene wax, thread, cable, push pin, dimensions variable.
Jeremy Rotenstein, ‘The Eagle’, 2024, sandstone, 32 x 20 x 27cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

View

Nov 22

Open

Introducing Ruby Quoyle @rubbadubbaboo.2, Amelia Rose @rrose_amelia and Jeremy Rotenstein @artofishal, three of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Ruby Quoyle, ‘Tracy’, 2024, plastic chair, wig, 83 x 49 x 52cm.
Amelia Rose, ‘Unruly Possession’, 2024, soy wax, glass, London plane tree pollen, dirt, copper, synthetic pillow, polyethylene wax, thread, cable, push pin, dimensions variable.
Jeremy Rotenstein, ‘The Eagle’, 2024, sandstone, 32 x 20 x 27cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

Introducing Lindy Yoannidis @lindyyo and Magic Young @magicsartgallery, two of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Lindy Yoannidis, ‘Untamed’, 2024, sticks, gauze, ink, zip ties, PVA glue, dimensions variable.
Magic Young, ‘Evulva’, 2024, inflatable, 400cm x 250cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

View

Nov 22

Open

Introducing Lindy Yoannidis @lindyyo and Magic Young @magicsartgallery, two of our graduating Sculpture BFA students, and their selected works (clockwise, L to R).
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
Lindy Yoannidis, ‘Untamed’, 2024, sticks, gauze, ink, zip ties, PVA glue, dimensions variable.
Magic Young, ‘Evulva’, 2024, inflatable, 400cm x 250cm.
Portrait Photography: Jack Rockliffe @soybasedhacked
Artwork Photography: Jennifer Leahy @silversalt_photography

The National Art School is proud to present The Grad Show, 6 – 15 December 2024, our major end-of-year exhibition showcasing the work of our 2024 Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) graduates.
—
Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 5 December, 6–10pm.
—
RSVP for the Opening Night at the link in bio.

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Nov 21

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The Guardian Australia: Fiona Foley’s art of the uncomfortable: ‘I wanted to provoke a conversation about racism’