ACCA Podcast

In cinema, Mexico City could be seen as a protagonist in its own right. As a central subject of many films, it has been given various roles throughout the history of cinema. In this lecture, Mexican-born, Melbourne-based film scholars Antonio González and César Albarrán-Torres explore the evolution of urban space and how it has been portrayed by a myriad of Mexican filmmakers, as well as by intern...

This event included a screening of works by Melbourne-based Mexican artist Diego Ramirez followed by a conversation between Ramirez and Anabelle Lacroix, ACCA’s Curator of Public Programs at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) at Federation Square, Melbourne. The screening included My superstar (2015), aXolotl’s Happiness (2014) and Postcard eXotica (2016). This event is presented in...

Guest curator, Chris Sharp discusses the curatorial process developing and realising 'Dwelling Poetically: Mexico City, a case study' at ACCA (21 April–24 June 2018). Chris reflects more generally on the subject of curating, and in relation to his curatorial projects and co-direction of Lulu, a project space in Mexico City. ABOUT CHRIS SHARP: Chris Sharp is a writer and independent curator current...

A conversation between 2017 winner of The Stella Prize Heather Rose and Dr Natasha Cica, with an Introduction from Executive Director and Co-Founder, The Stella Prize Aviva Tuffield. This event is presented by The Stella Prize with the Trawalla Foundation and hosted by ACCA in the gallery during the 2017–18 exhibition 'Unfinished Business: Perspectives on art and feminism'. Heather Rose is the Aus...

A conversation between Chief Political Correspondent, 7:30, ABC Laura Tingle and Chair of Trawalla Foundation and Pathways to Politics Advisory Committee member Carol Schwartz. This event is presented by The University of Melbourne, School of Government for the Pathways to Politics Program for Women with the Trawalla Foundation and hosted by ACCA in the gallery during the 2017–18 exhibition 'Unfin...

A conversation between academic psychologist Professor Cordelia Fine and Chair, Trawalla Foundation; Founding Chair, Women's Leadership Institute of Australia Carol Schwartz. This event is presented by the Women's Leadership Institute of Australia and The University of Melbourne and hosted by ACCA in the gallery during the 2017–18 exhibition 'Unfinished Business: Perspectives on art and feminism'....

As part of ACCA's exhibition 'Unfinished Business: Perspectives on art and feminism', ACCA presents Learning From Each Other, a special leadership and professional development seminar. This seminar set out to create a productive space for discussion and mentoring amongst a small group of arts administrators, curators and students to share experiences, unpack pathways and build networks. Convened a...

This is the fourth and final symposium in ACCA's Symposium Series 'Unfinished Conversations'. Convened by Vikki McInnes with guest speakers Janine Burke, Jacqueline Milner, Elvis Richardson and Gemma Weston, this symposium explores how gender bias effect the arts, and what the gender representation in national art collection tell us about our society. This symposium is introduced by Angela Goddard...

This is the third symposium in ACCA's 'Unfinished Conversations' symposium series. Chaired by Wemba-Wemba and Gunditjmara artist, curator, academic and Co-Curator of Unfinished Business, Paola Balla, with guest panellists Maddee Clark, Neika Lehman, Kate Just, Nina Lykke, this panel discussion set out to identify and question the challenges of blak feminism and intersectionality today in Australia...

Next Gen(der) is the second symposium in ACCA's 'Unfinished Conversations' symposium series. This conversation invites young people to take over ACCA and explore the role and significance of feminism and gender diversity for the next generations. Members of Melbourne school feminist collectives, FHS Feminist Collective (Fitzroy High School), The Violet Fems (Eltham High School), TUHF: The Uni High...

How are women, non-binary and gender diverse people represented in the media? What are the alternatives? Presented at MPavilion, this symposium explores feminist analyses and strategies in relation to the media, writing, new forms of publishing and text as form with guest speakers Brigid Delaney, Nayuka Gorrie, Natalie Thomas and Deb Verhoeven. This panel discussion launches ‘Unfinished Conversati...

Making dreams come true: A conversation with visual artist Maree Clarke How important is it to visualise your work coming to life? How well do you know your self, your history and your place in the world? Tai and Maree get pretty heavy and emotional in an electric conversation about making contemporary work from loaded memories and histories. They talk about how important it is to avoid being put...

Stepping into the Circle: A conversation with Rachel Nolan How does design incorporate memory and materiality? What would our built environment be like if clients and architects revived the world of imagination? Tai and Rachel discuss the language of landscape in relation to and as an integral part of Architecture. They talk about the very personal process of designing a house and how it can influ...

Wild Thing: A conversation with artist Jenny Watson. What does it mean to be an 'Aussie Artist'? What is wildness and how do we allow it space to thrive? Tai and Jenny share their love of horses and the freedoms they offer to us as young girls whilst taking a close look at the Australian and international gallery scene and the ‘sober business of art'. They talk about the importance of depicting ‘b...

Painting Yourself out of the Dark: A conversation with painter Diena Georgetti. What is it like to live with a mental illness and make art? How important is editing when it comes to being an artist? Tai and Diena discuss how difficult it can be when we are critical not only of our work but also of ourselves. They talk about finding consolation in successful works we have made and painting as a way...

Natural Woman: A conversation with Patricia Piccinini How do we use work to explore ideas of motherhood and morality? Tai and Patricia discuss what it means to be a mother and continue a successful art practice. They talk about issues of postnatal depression and anxiety, partners and family life. They also talk about owning and celebrating your fecundity and creating ‘finely crafted love letters’...

Big Horizons: A conversation with visual artist Sally Smart How do our gestures and bodies become part of our work? And how is the act of cutting a feminist action? Tai and Sally talk about female identity and archetypes of women such as pirates, witches and more- ideas which have been present in Sally’s life and imagination since she was a child. We talk about the act of cutting and how the femal...

Control / Escape: A conversation with dancer and choreographer Shelley Lasica How and what do you present to an audience? Where does the line between yourself and your work begin? Tai and Shelley discuss the assumptions about ‘revealing the truth’ in dance and how creating complexity and a kind of ‘unhooked narrative’ that is not linear or logocentric might be a more exciting way of looking at thi...

Tempering Tenacity: A conversation with visual artist Lou Hubbard How can we find our true methodology and maintain a healthy obsession? Tai and Lou talk about taking your time in life to find your true creative path. They also talk about tenacity, bossiness and learning how to defer control and practice patience. Lou says ‘The artist in me doesn’t sit down’ and they explore what it means to be tr...

Her Life in The Nude: A conversation with performer and director Maude Davey How can we be open and honest and take risks, but still feel safe? Tai and Maude talk about making work about women and what exactly does it mean to take risks in front of an audience? They share the frustration of finding it easier to write about other people’s work than their own and how to deal with failure. They ask t...

Non Binary Futures: A conversation with guitarist Tonié Field Don’t put me in a box! How can we celebrate and encourage fluidity? Tai and Tonié discuss what it means to be a non-binary and progressive artist in a classical world. How might we express overtly political ideas through an abstract language like music. They share a boisterous and heartfelt journey through the worlds of Drag, Burlesque...

Dark Laughs: A conversation with sculptor Claire Lambe How do we dig up dark memories from our past and make them funny? Tai and Claire share a lively chat about dark satire as a way of communication in art practice and how the past, present and future can all exist in an artwork right now. Claire shares tales of the ‘white-knuckle-ride’ that is making work and how she manages to deal with feeling...

Window to the Inside: A conversation with painter Katherine Hattam How do we access our True Selves? Tai and Katherine discuss how making and depicting space can merge the inside (mental) world with the outside (public) world of politics and ideas. Reflecting on Katherine’s interest in psychoanalysis and unconscious time vs real time and how family life can be political.

World Weaver: A conversation with visual artist Chaco Kato How do we fit into the art world? Can we create our own world? Tai and Chaco explore ideas of how and why you might create your own support network, collective or cross-community project. Chaco literally weaves her own context and explores traditionally domestic crafts on a giant scale.

As a prelude to ACCA’s major exhibition, 'Unfinished Business: Perspectives on art and feminism' (15 Dec 2017 – 25 March 2018), this panel discussion starts the conversation about the historical legacies and new debates within feminism and discuss the ‘unfinished business’ of feminism today. Speakers: Atong Atem is a South Sudanese artist and writer whose work explores postcolonial practices in th...