UC exhibition honours colleague

Kim Pham

24 May 2017: University of Canberra staff have explored what is beautiful and beastly about our relationship with the natural world in the 23^rd Faculty of Arts and Design staff exhibition.

Featuring the work of 18 staff, this year’s exhibition titled ‘Beauties and Beasts’, paid tribute to colleague and animal lover Sandra Burr, who passed away in 2014. The exhibition will be on display at the Belconnen Arts Centre from 6 – 28 May.

“Sandra was a dedicated horsewoman and a passionate advocate for animals,” curator and Associate Professor in Creative and Cultural Practice Dr Jordan Williams said.

“Sandra produced exciting research related to the relationship between the human and non-human worlds, some of which is presented in this exhibition. I think she would be honoured and amused by this tribute to her,” she added.

The exhibition celebrates the diverse breadth of work and research being undertaken by the faculty and included paintings, artist books, video and sound art, and sculptural and interactive media.

“Staff have created works that reflect both creative and research practice. Each piece is an interpretation of something beautiful or beastly. Some works will make you feel deeply while others will make you laugh,” Dr Williams said.

They include digital prints that explore the intimate relationships humans have with natural objects and a video on artist Mark ‘Scrapdaddy’ Bradford who upcycles scrap metal to create car-creatures.

Dr Williams worked in collaboration with Caren Florance and Paul Munden to create ‘Shred’. The artwork shows two visual representations of Dr Munden’s poem ‘Rat Tales’.

“We place a great emphasis on collaboration in the faculty and in our creative research. We have also had a positive outcome when working together because it’s guided by the spirit of curiosity,” Dr Williams said.

A poetry reading featuring Distinguished Professor Jen Webb and postdoctoral fellow Paul Munden was organised as part of the exhibition.