Perspectives: Ema Tavola

Saturday 19 October, 2019, 10 – 11:15am

Pricing: Free entry

Location: Hawke Building – Bradley Forum, Level 5. Click Here for a MAP

Presenter: Ema Tavola

Ema Tavola:
Is The Gallery Enough?

New Zealand-based independent artist and curator Ema Tavola unpacked power and privilege in the South Pacific through the lens of the art world.

With the unbalanced power dynamic of the arts ecology ever-visible, and the experiences of art world Othering becoming increasingly clear, Tavola argues that moves to diversify arts programming are too often tokenistic and rarely representative of systemic change. Instead, confronting disturbing truths and creating space for uncomfortable conversations is a necessary part of challenging the value system and institutionalisation of arts and culture in the colonised South Pacific.

By considering the complex anthropology of race, class, intellectualism and privilege that is embedded within gallery walls, Tavola reflected on 15 years of practice-based research to discuss how enabling the genuine presence of Pacific art, artists and audiences in institutions is not a radical act, but rather a conscious decolonisation of the Gallery and its potential.

Perspectives: shaping the world through visual culture.

This event is presented as part of Tarnanthi: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art

Photographs and/or video may be taken at this event.

Images (L-R): Ema Tavola. Image courtesy the speaker.