Shell

🖤 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘁, 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮 @badraaji 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 @heidemoma … In the semi-narrative 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘢 𝘥𝘰𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘺, Badra Aji seeks to locate a missing half-sister, in order to disprove a family karma waiting to be repaid. The works explore intergenerational trauma, heteronormativity and the escalating tide of conservatism and queerphobia in Indonesia, while grappling with the tension between personal and cultural memory. Using visual disjuncture, Aji pulls viewers into the complex, often unseen forces shaping family and identity, weaving private history with broader social tensions. Referencing personal photographs and artefacts, alongside a spoken poetic narrative, the journey is realised through video and a series of drawings. The recurring motif of women in hijab becomes both a symbol of familiarity, and the threatening force of strict religious law in the artists homeland. Meanwhile the theme of passed-down trauma is explored both as supernatural phenomenon and psychological wounds. 14 March — 16 August Curated by @__shell____ IMAGE: Badra Aji Mother, Mother, Mother (Ibu, Ibu, Ibu) Pencil on Paper, 33 x 29 cm, 2026 #gettheboyadogandcallitaday #naarmexhibitions #comingsoon #curating #badraaji

BOLD curated by yours truly for @artsprojectaust @collingwood_yards gallery. 🩷🩵🧡💚🧡💜❤️💛🩶   For many neurodivergent artists, merely partaking in the contemporary art world is a bold and courageous act. Held to coincide with APA’s 50th anniversary celebrations, BOLD highlights artists who are unapologetically themselves, and whose instinctive practices manifest in powerful and confident work. Subjects are distilled to their very essence, resulting in pure unadorned form.   Mirroring the fun, colour and joyful nature of the APA studio, BOLD features work by APA artists Adrian Lazzaro, Anna Dehm, Anthony Romagnano, Ian Gold, Jacob Cartelli, John Bates, Julian Martin, Michael Trasancos, Patrick Francis and Ruth Howard.   Show ran 19 October - 23 November 2024. 🩷🩵🧡💚🧡💜❤️💛🩶   The opening celebration took place after the launch of APA’s new publication, Arts Project Australia: 50 Years.   🩷🩵🧡💚🧡💜❤️💛🩶   #ArtsProjectAustralia #BOLD #ICuratedAShow

𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘉𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘛𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 a group show of emerging ceramic artists from @artsprojectaust that I’ve curated for @mailboxartspace ! 𝘉𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘛𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 opens Sunday 10 Aug 4pm (would love to see you there), and will continue til 27 September. The artists hands are clearly visible in the ceramic pinch pots, plaques and sculptures which culminate in 𝘉𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘛𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺. The pieces are at first glance abstracted, yet on closer inspection are united by their mimicry of natural and organic forms, including geological aggregates, coral organisms, seed pods, their resulting flora, and the landscapes in which these reside. Distilled into hand-built forms, each piece is rendered instinctively in clay then marked with intricate surface pattern. Richly layered glaze has been applied with intuitive and vivid use of colour, creating motifs that warp and shift into rhythmic decoration. 𝘉𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘛𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 celebrates the innate human inclination to seek connections with nature and other living systems. @allydimattina , Sal Felsinger, Sam Forster and Dave Mendelsohn are studio artists at Arts Project Australia (APA), an internationally leading visual arts organisation that champions neurodivergent artists and artists with intellectual disability. Through their studio program, exhibition opportunities, and professional development pathways, they empower Arts Project artists to develop their practice and meaningful careers in the contemporary art world. All four artists are represented by Arts Project Australia, Naarm/Melbourne. Curated by yours truly with a special shout out to the APA ceramics team @m_____c_________ , @pegsmarlow & @permanentbruise for assistance bringing this to life. #BiophilicTendency #MailboxArtSpace #ExhibitionAnnouncement

🚪🪞🪟🏚️ Shamefully spent more of my time staring at the walls of @abbotsfordconvent than the works on display #ilikethatwallthatisagoodwall #MDW #melbournedesignweek

📓 Come visit me and the gang this weekend (Fri-Sun) at the @artsprojectaust stall at Melbourne Art Book Fair @ngvmelbourne . Lotsa artist zines, bitta merch, and cameos by some of the artists. Swing by @ornate.gesture to visit Ed and collect some of his publications while you’re there! 📓 #MABF #MelbourneArtBookFair #Zines

🎒Conjured up some new APA totes featuring this here drawing by one Mr Peter Ben. Debuting next week at Melbourne Art Book Fair, come and get em! 🎒 #totebag #merch #mabf #peterben

✂️ Seemingly annual rainy day collage session including a few easter eggs of events and orgs around the grounds. Shout out to my Japanese scissors for getting around the tiny details ✂️ #collage #cutnpaste #snipsnip

🧘🏼✍🏼 A lil flick though some semi sporadic life drawings, 5-20 min poses #lifedrawing #figurativestudy #nudedrawing #sketchbook #lifemodel

🏝️ Lil 24 hour jaunt to @peninsulahotsprings and surrounds 🏝️ #rosebud #capelsound #tootgarook #mccrae #mtmartha

‘Get the boy a dog and call it a day’ Catalogue is now available. Including essays by Shell Odgers and Dr Wulan Dirgantoro. Link in my bio. Exhibition continues until 16 August at @heidemoma

📓 Hello internet, live as of today is this here digital catalogue for @badraaji ’s 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘢 𝘥𝘰𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘺 in which you can find and read my curatorial essay, alongside a responsive piece to the works by @pinifolia . Big thanks to Wulan, @mtgibb from @heidemoma for the layout, @lesleyharding_ for the editing, and @narellewilsonphotography & @christiancapurro for the photos and install shots. Link in my bio and/or over on the Heide website. Happy reading! #exhibtioncatalogue #curatorialessay

📷 Here you go, some install pics of @badraaji ’s 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘢 𝘥𝘰𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘺 curated by yours truly for @heidemoma . Thanks @christiancapurro for the shots. Hands up if you’ve had a visit?