INTER-ACTION

By Benjamen Judd

A group of artists are set to challenging the traditional ways we look at the body. Particularly, the boundaries of the body and the manner in which it shares this planet with other life forms. In their own words, they are creating a multispecies zeitgeist that is about to sweep contemporary art worlds and they will be showcasing their works here in Sydney this July.

Inter-action is a collection of artists from Australia and the USA that are engaging in multispecies entanglements and conceptual diffraction within new materialism. Presented as part of the Australian Animal Studies Group Conference at the University of Sydney, the exhibition features time-based, sculptural, installation and photographic works by leading Australian and North American artists.

One such artist is the New Zealand born and now Sydney local, Hayden Fowler. Fowler’s methodology involves the construction of elaborate sets in which he choreographs human or animal subjects, creating hyper-real video and photographic work from within these fictional spaces. His art is also heavily influenced by his earlier degrees in biology and often includes information that is stored within his own body. This has included the process of tattooing, species interaction, and birds from his native New Zealand.

Inter-action will take place at MOP Projects at Sydney University, 2/39 Abercrombie St, Chippendale.