Student talks on art and architecture: Fibre Optics
Learn more about new exhibitions at the University of Sydney's Chau Chak Wing Museum through talks by university architecture, art, and art history students.
The first set of student talks will focus on the Chau Chak Wing Museum's Fibre Optics exhibition curated by Marika Duczynski (Gamilaraay/Mandandanji).
Presentations by Leah Gillespie, Seraphina Zhou, Mary Koutalianos and Eeshaa Batra will draw out the details of key works in the exhibition. The talks will contextualise and honour 'Fibre' within First Nations artistic practice.
Exhibition Overview
‘Fibre’ takes many forms across contemporary and historic weaving, bark, textile, and paper works by First Nations women artists represented in the Chau Chak Wing Museum collection.
Fibre Optics celebrates the ingenuity, technical mastery and enduring depth of women’s knowledge woven into fibre works in all their forms, the title itself a playful nod to the rich visual language of fibre and the material transformation of texture, scale and style.
While Fibre Optics revels in the optics of fibre, it also honours the histories, cultural traditions and labour-intensive processes that produced them, recognising the results of women’s fibre practices not solely as women’s craftwork, but as the masterworks of women artists.
Exhibited artworks span three distinct regions: Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait), Queensland, and Boggabilla, New South Wales, brought together for the first time.
Student talks on art & architecture are presented by the Power Institute and the Chau Chak Wing Museum, and are part of the USU's "Creative Month".
People
Leah Gillespie
Leah is a second-year student studying art history and ancient history, with a specific interest in feminist approaches to history. They plan to pursue a career in curation.
Seraphina Zhou
Seraphina Zhou recently completed a Master of Interaction Design and Electronic Arts at the University of Sydney. With a multidisciplinary background spanning fashion, art and digital design, she is interested in visual culture and creative experiences. She is currently open to opportunities across design, creative practice and cultural projects.
Eeshaa Batra
Eeshaa has recently completed her studies in Art History and is on her way to study a Masters in London starting in just a few weeks. Her specialty there will be colonial encounter in French art, investigating the intersection of culture, femininity, and identity.
Mary Koutalianos
Mary is a third-year Bachelor of Architecture student interested in urbanism and designing with Country. She has tried her hand at basket weaving and possesses a keen eye for appreciating the skill that goes into creating fibre art.
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