Craft Conversations
Ara, we are really excited about your upcoming Makers In Residence as part of the Craft Contemporary Festival and we would love to know a little bit more about you and your practice. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and where you love for ceramics began?
Thanks for having me, i'm excited to be part of the Makers in Residence program. I studied Visual Arts Sculpture at RMIT University, finished in 2012 and continued with a Master in Environment and Planning, I've been practising since with minimum of one solo show a year developed at my studio at West Footscray. My work explores and the notions of hybrid ecologies within the context of studio-based sculptural practice and in particular material research and investigation. It can be read through the contexts of philosophy, technology, biology and ecologies. My interest in ceramics started during my second year at Uni, and I wanted to make an organ-like vessel to hold different coloured liquids. The installation acted as a drawing machine for 48 hours within the gallery space. The project was my first Solo exhibition. I remember my lecturer Laura Woodward helping me with slip casting and giving tips throughout the project. I think this is how it all started. Since then, I have always integrated ceramics within my practice, alongside plants, mist, water and neon. It's only been since COVID that I started making ceramics as independent objects, not necessarily part of an installation or a project.
Your work explores cultural landscapes and the natural ecosystems, did you always intend for your studies in Science, Environment & Planning from RMIT to become a major part of your creative practice, or was this more of a natural progression for you?
It was never a plan, more of a natural progression to examine my practice. It was an interesting course for me to be around the academics who dedicated their research to Environmental studies and Urbanisation. It really helped me to research my own practice at the start of my career.
During your residency we will get an insight into your making process. Can you tell us more about what we can expect to see, perhaps a bit more about the objects you intend to make?
During the residency I will be experimenting with making larger scale sculptural work roughly 70cm in height. They will be earthy, organic and relic inspired hybrid objects. I will be covering the process from building to firing and glazing.
In response to COVID-19, a lot of people have re-evaluated the way they work, what impact has the pandemic had on your practice? Were they positive or negative? Have you adopted any new skills or techniques that you otherwise may not have?
It's been interesting, and I'm working differently since the pandemic. It's been more focused on my ceramic work. I haven't been working with other mediums since the pandemic started. I'm reconsidering what happens to the work after making and minimising waste, especially with large-scale spatial work that comes with storage issues.
It's been more of a technical shift with of focus on ceramics, and the pandemic allowed more time for experimentation and tests. It's been very positive, I find the materiality extremely interesting with many potentials. It's also been economically viable for an artist as its opened my up practice to more collectors and a new audience.
We are always curious about where makers and artists find inspiration. What are some of the unexpected places you draw inspiration from?
It's a hard one because most of the time my process in the studio is not driven by inspiration. I think experimentation and failure sometimes leads to unexpected inspirations, especially when it comes to forms and aesthetics.
Any underrepresented artist we should be looking at right now?
I have recently been following the work of Joana Partyka, a ceramic artist, illustrator and political staffer based in Boorloo (Perth). aHer work is tactile and visceral.
Thank you for your time Ara - we're looking forward to your upcoming Makers in Residence
Interviewed by Eloise Sim, Curatorial and Programs Assistant