Bringing together Australian LGBTQI+ artists in conversation, Celebrating Mardi Gras Month will take place on Wednesday 18 February at the Wollongong Art Gallery.
Led by First Nations (Jawoyn) artist Troy-Anthony Baylis and Wollongong Art Gallery Director Daniel Mudie Cunningham, they will discuss Baylis's project Tell Them Their Dreaming . This, the newest façade installation at the Wollongong Art Gallery, is an expansion of his 2019-2020 project of the same name.
"It was conceived of in a semi-sleep state, and from there I went forth wanting to discuss the layered meaning of dreams and dreaming" Troy-Anthony Baylis said.
"As sleep and the subconscious, as fantasy and desire in popular music, and as sacred Aboriginal cultural knowledge known as The Dreaming."
Tell Them Their Dreaming is a playful and evocative art series that visually samples music from queer icons such as Kylie Minogue, Mariah Carey, and Jayne County; Australian bands including Kids In The Kitchen and The Masters Apprentices; and Wollongong's own Tumbleweed.
"Each lyric is positioned off-kilter, asymmetrical, in some cases reflective of the imagery and feel of the song it comes from. While not every musician sampled here is queer, I figure I am, and I enjoy all types, all stereos . While rainbows have a common cultural association with queerness now, they've been used to represent diversity of all sorts for a long time, and I love how I can draw on that diversity of meaning and inclusion of identities and communities and bring it into my work"
In addition to Baylis, a selection of queer artists exhibiting in the Wollongong Art Prize will share insights on their practices and the works featured in this year's exhibition.
Wollongong Art Gallery Director Daniel Mudie Cunningham is proud to host and take part in this event, and spoke to the importance of platforming such events.
"Wollongong has always been a centre for diversity, creativity and innovation, and nowhere is that more literally on display then here in our exhibitions" he said. "The interplay between identity and art is always a joy to learn about, as much as any technical application of practice and style."
All are welcome to Celebrating Mardi Gras Month at 11am on Wednesday 18 February, free with no bookings required.
