Co-ordinate: References List as Essay: Departures from the intersection of gallery and library.
Orissa Keane, Amy Weng, Nell Fraser , Fi Wilson, Andrew Copolov, Jenna Muir
9 Sep–30 Nov 2022
References List as Essay: Departures from the intersection of gallery and library.
Melbourne Art Library + The Physics Room
This project comes from exploring the convention of the references list as a worthy document in its own right, subverted so that the sources are footnoted, leading the reader to 'discussions' or 'tangents' which each of us have collaboratively contributed to. Broken down into 'source', 'statement', and 'tangent' sections, this is an interactive way for readers to engage with some of the topics which arose in our meetings. The list might stand alone as a reading list, the adjacent statements are intended to shed light on the sources, the tangents or discussions, as indicated, explore the ideas in the sources in further depth. These notes contain our reflections on how the roles of the library and the gallery are changing in relation to each other, and in relation to our contemporary world.
Melbourne Art Library and The Physics Room are in dialogue to explore the intersections between contemporary exhibition spaces and libraries. This project comes from exploring the convention of the references list as a worthy document in its own right, subverted so that the sources are footnoted, leading the reader to 'discussions' or 'tangents' which each of us have collaboratively contributed to.
This program takes place on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded - this land is stolen land. We pay respects to Wurundjeri Elders, past, present and emerging, to the Elders from other communities and to any other Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders who might encounter or participate in the program.
Orissa Keane is an artist, exhibition technician, writer, and publisher based in Ōtautahi. Orissa is the current Writing and Publications Coordinator at The Physics Room and the founder and the facilitator for Vernacular, an online platform for art criticism in Aotearoa, which launched in 2021. Orissa is driven by the excitement of working with artists and writers across her different roles in the arts, whether in a technical or publishing capacity. In her own creative practice, Orissa enjoys looking at the intricacies and tensions within structures both physical and non-physical, looking to architecture, language, and social connections to explore this interest.
Amy Weng is an art writer, editor and curator based in Ōtautahi Christchurch. She is the founder of Hainamana, a website dedicated to Asian New Zealand contemporary art and culture, and has contributed to a number of local and international publications. She was the organiser of the inaugural Asian Aotearoa Artists Hui in 2017, and has curated projects at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, Te Tuhi, RM, Meanwhile Gallery and Window Gallery. She is currently Curator at The Physics Room, and Associate Editor at Contemporary Hum.
Nell Fraser is passionate about community engagement with local histories. She has worked across cultural collections in Canberra and Melbourne, most recently as the General Manager at the Castlemaine Art Museum. Nell is a librarian, with a background in Art History and Theory.
Fi Wilson is a creative producer with a background in law. She has worked on local and international feature films, founded a small film festival, and is currently in the ad industry. Her passion is laughing and her interests are many, including art libraries.
Andrew Copolov is a designer, researcher and educator. Having graduated with an MA in Architecture from the Royal College of Art, Andrew works as an architectural graduate, and is a Design Studio Leader and PhD student at Monash University. He is interested in designing social infrastructure.
Jenna Muir is a Meanjin-based arts worker supporting the development of Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) and Melbourne Art Library (MAL) by enhancing the experiences of local philanthropic communities, and supporting fund raising and special events. Jenna is a passionate about accessibility and sustainability in the arts.
