DWELLING ON THE OUTSIDE: SEARCHING FOR FOLK WISDOM TO CONNECT TO EARTH

Sharing experiences of otherness Mai Nguyễn-Long (artist) and Adam Porter (curator) will discuss how research and respect for “traditional” expressive forms of tangible and intangible cultural practice (folkloric practices) can offer instructive wisdom, believing that knowledge learned from these sometimes difficult-to-access/threatened practices can recalibrate our understandings of contemporary art. This dialogue emphasises where translation and re-contextualisation occurs, of how such knowledge can enrich our appreciation of our environment. Adam will draw out how these ideas have shaped Mai’s practice, most recently sparked by a character named “Vomit Girl” who instructs her to re-build woodcarvings into naked clay. 

Reflecting on Porter’s participation in Re-Aligning the Cosmos, an on-ongoing project of The Factory Arts Centre (Ho Chi Minh City), this discussion will engage concepts of ‘earth’ – this year’s chosen element of study. Re-Aligning the Cosmos seeks to examine the role, presence and meaning of the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) in contemporary life, examining how they are used in human superstition/spirituality, reflecting on their consumption (or neglect) that are, in turn, of impact on the human and non-human world. 

This online talk series is the second of four, as part of the Australia Council for the Arts ‘Curatorial Associates Program’, in partnership with The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre and 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, with the support of Campbelltown Arts Centre. Please join us online in July with curators of The Factory for its third session!

* Image Credit: Mai Nguyễn-Long, Vomit Girl (Vigit-Worana), glazed earthenware, 2017. Image courtesy of the Artist.

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