ON ART

Ahead of the launch of Samstag Museum of Art’s group exhibition Direct, Directed, Directly, Chinese Australian poet and artist Chunxiao Qu joins Associate Curator Anna Zagala to discuss her art practice. Chunxiao Qu grew up in Qingdao, China, before emigrating to Naarm / Melbourne in 2015 to study at Monash University, where she is now based. She shares why working with language interests her and what it does in her artworks, the impact of one dedicated tutor in shaping her art practice, and what drew her to working with LED neon. Direct, Directed, Directly is on at the Samstag Museum of Art 28 February 2025 – 30 May 2025. The exhibition features Richard Bell / Madison Bycroft / Kuba Dorabialski / Danielle Freakley / Christine Sun Kim and Thomas Mader / Monte Masi / Chunxiao Qu ON ART is supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation and Solstice Podcasting and produced by Tilly Balding in Tarntanya/Adelaide. The conversation was recorded 18 February 2025. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

In this episode, Samstag Associate Curator Anna Zagala speaks with artist Archie Moore (Kamilaroi / Bigambul) and film maker Molly Reynolds. Molly worked with Archie to produce his Samstag Museum of Art / 2024 Adelaide Film Festival moving image commission Archie Moore: Dwelling (Adelaide Issue). The exhibition is on at Samstag until 29 November 2024. On the day the exhibition launch, they discuss their preparation for the work, how Archie’s love of films and personal history was a source of inspiration, and the curious experience of displaying personal objects, a process that has transformed them into artifacts. The episode concludes with an address by Djon Mundine OAM delivered to an appreciative crowd in Fenn Place, outside the Samstag Museum of Art, later that afternoon. You can hear both Djon Mundine and Archie Moore on earlier episodes of the ON ART podcast. Djon Mundine – Episode 24 [https://omny.fm/shows/on-art/djon-mundine-oam] Archie Moore – Episode 28 [https://omny.fm/shows/on-art/archie-moore] ON ART is supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation and Solstice Podcasting. It is produced by Tilly Balding in Tarntanya/Adelaide. The conversation was recorded on 22 October 2024.  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Kaurna/Adelaide-based artist, researcher and 2024 Samstag Scholar Ash Tower joins Samstag Associate Curator Anna Zagala to discuss his love of learning, what influenced him to select the British School at Rome, Italy, and the importance of preparation.  ON ART is supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation and Solstice Podcasting. It is produced by Tilly Balding in Tarntanya/Adelaide. The conversation was recorded on 4 September 2024.  Learn more about the Anne & Gordon Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarship here [https://unisa.edu.au/connect/samstag-museum/scholarship/]. Instagram link: Ash Tower [https://www.instagram.com/ash.tower/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Dr Irene Watson (Tanganekald, Meintangk, Bunganditj and Potaruwutj) sits down with Dr Vernon Ah Kee (Kuku Yalandji, Waanji, Gugu Yimithirr and Koko Berrin) for a yarn, six years after the pair first worked together on Vernon’s commission to create an ephemeral site-specific artwork of Kaurna language words on the grounds of UniSA, City West campus. Recently refreshed, the artwork embeds Kaurna concepts, extending Vernon’s long-standing commitment to art activism and a language-based practice. The pair talk candidly and with a great sense of mutual respect about reciprocity, justice, and the importance of speaking truth as two First Nations people contending with a settler culture that only wants to hear ‘happy’ stories.   https://unisa.edu.au/connect/samstag-museum/art-on-campus/ [https://unisa.edu.au/connect/samstag-museum/art-on-campus/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Saudi/Palestinian artist Dana Awartani joins Samstag Curator Anna Zagala to discuss her art practice, living between cultures, and the importance of her unique art education in both contemporary art and traditional crafts, in shaping her art practice and career.  Dana shares the background to the two moving image installation works currently on display at Samstag Museum of Art I Went Away and Forgot You. A While Ago I Remembered. I Remembered I’d Forgotten You. I Was Dreaming and Listen to my Words, her passion for geometry and what being Arab means to her. ON ART is supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation and Solstice Podcasting. It is produced by Tilly Balding in Tarntanya/Adelaide. The conversation was recorded on 4 April 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.