‘Territory time’ is a maxim for life in the Northern Territory. Isolation and extreme seasons, particularly in the state’s northern capital, Darwin, limit one’s activities and daily achievements, and create a sense of time that is fluid, warped; marked by waiting. Waiting for the seasons to change, waiting for the next load of materials and supplies to be delivered. Like the puppet man’s hands, ‘Territory time’ controls the lives of residents, who must adopt an attitude of acceptance; a philosophy for surviving such difficult conditions.
“Not today, not tomorrow”. A social norm that defines tomorrow (and time) as ambiguous and undefinable: the day after today, the day after tomorrow, someday in the next week … never.
About the artist/s:
Siying Zhou is currently living and working in Darwin, Australia. Born in 1980 in China, Siying received academic training in drawing, sketching and oil painting skills during her high school years. After obtaining a Bachelor of Visual Arts Degree from Nanjing Institute of Arts (2003), she was accepted as a visual arts research student by Sydney Collage of Arts, at the University of Sydney. Siying has a Master of Multimedia Design Degree from SCA, and a Postgraduate Diploma of Interactive Media from the University of Technology of Sydney. Siying moved to Darwin in 2007 and currently works as Program Manager at 24HR Art – Northern Territory Centre for Contemporary Art.
Considering herself a concept-driven artist, Siying’s practise crosses many art disciplines; computer screen based work, video, installation and drawing. Interested in multicultural communities, new colonisation by backpackers and correlation of physical and imaginary spaces, Siying gains major inspiration for creativity from life experience. Her recent works include The Rhythm of the Shadows (2004) and Windows (2005) – two interactive computer screen based projects exhibited at SCA Sydney, Phoenix tails and flies (2008) – a large scaled installation exhibited at DVAA (Darwin Visual Art Association), Grass is Greener in Alice Springs (2009) – an installation with sound work exhibited at Watch This Space inc. in Alice Springs and funded by Arts NT, Specimen of a glove (2009) – an object based artwork exhibited in Hayley West and Tobias Richardson’s curated exhibition, The Gleaners – a lost glove project, at DVAA.
Joshua Bonson was born and raised in Darwin and has only been painting “seriously” for the past three years. In this time, Joshua has risen from unknown artist to collectable artist without any professional training, guidance or support.
Selected from over 300 entries in the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) in August 2007 and 2008 he was the youngest finalist in the history of the award two years running. Open to all adult Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander artists, the Award aims to showcase the very best Australian Indigenous art from around the country.
Joshua creates paintings that are inspired by the natural environment of his hometown, Darwin. Through his painting, a dialogue speaks confidently of life and experiences growing up in the Northern Territory.
Joshua’s Indigenous heritage is a mixture of Torres Strait Islander, Northern Territory Aboriginal and North Queensland Aboriginal.
In 2009 Joshua exhibited his work in Generation Next Exhibition with established commercial gallery Randell Lane Gallery, in Perth WA and at 24Hr Art in Parap, NT. As well as exhibitions, Joshua’s images and details have been published in several magazines including the Education Resource Kit from the 24th Telstra NATSIAA as well as Object Magazine 57 – 2008 /2009 Celebrating Indigenous Design – Art and Craft, Emerging Artists / Profiles.
Kris Keogh is a musician, artist, software designer, organiser and teacher, who is happiest with several different projects on the go at once. Musically, he is currently studying classical harp, part of indie guitar band Red Plum and Snow, and has performed music as Blastcorp since 2000 across Australia and Japan, supporting artists including Diplo (US), Freq Nasty (UK) and Anticon (US). He designs audio software with Reaktor and has an iPhone music app currently in development. Draws using Posca textas, and has exhibited across Australia and in Japan since 2008. Co-Founder and Chairperson of Happy Yess Community Arts Inc, Darwin’s only dedicated original music venue. Lecturer in music technology at Charles Darwin University.
Catherine McAvoy was born in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1982. She moved to the Northern Territory in 2000 and has lived in Darwin for the past six years. She received a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the Charles Darwin University in 2008, and has recently completed an Honours degree in a Bachelor of Creative Arts and Industries in 2009.
Her art practice began with the disciplines of drawing and acrylic painting but has evolved to include sculpture and installation. Catherine’s work is autobiographical. She is inspired by reoccurring nostalgic memories from her childhood, and particularly the subjective inaccuracy of those memories. Her recent solo works include “Reminiscence” (2009) an installation exhibited at the Charles Darwin University Gallery, “Walking Bass Line II” (2009) a sculpture exhibited at 24HR Art Northern Territory Centre for Contemporary Art, and “Mabel’s Song” (2008) a series of sculptural works exhibited at Darwin Visual Arts Association.
Born in Adelaide, Rebecca Arbon moved to Darwin when she was twelve. After completing school in Darwin’s Northern suburbs Rebecca completed her Bachelor of Visual Arts at Queensland University of Technology and Charles Darwin University, receiving the Edgar Dunis Arts Scholarship for her final year. Whilst studying Honours in 2008 Rebecca represented Charles Darwin University at the National Graduate show Hatched held at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art. In the same year, Rebecca received the Emerging Curators Grant through Darwin Visual Arts Association to curate the group show, Mimicry, and graduated with a 1st Class Honours for which she received the Dean’s Bursary.
In 2009, Rebecca exhibited as part of Personal Space at 24HR Art and completed her Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning, specialising in Senior Secondary Art Education, which she received the Recognition of Excellence for Commitment to the Profession on completion. In 2010 Rebecca is teaching Visual Arts at Casuarina Senior College and working towards a solo show later in the year.
