What stories do our bodies tell? This is the question visitors will explore throughout the winter 2019 season of Our Bodies, Our Voices, Our Marks at the Immigration Museum.
The suite of exhibitions and experiences includes two photography exhibits that look at the intersection of ancient and modern tattoo practices and a series of contemporary installations curated by Stanislava Pinchuk (Miso).
Perseverance: Japanese Tattoo Tradition in a Modern World explores the artistry and rich tradition of Japanese tattoos and their influence on modern tattoo culture in Japan. Facing negative stigma due to its association with the ‘yakuza’, the country’s notorious mafia, this exhibition investigates how tattoo practice has persevered and looks to share its artistry, symbolism and the skill of its practitioners with wider communities.
Alongside this, Tatau: Marks of Polynesia looks at a 2,000-year-old art form that remains a cornerstone of Samoan culture throughout its global diaspora. It showcases the work of traditional tatau masters alongside that of emerging artists, and explores how this practice informs Samoan and other Polynesian identity and connection to culture.
To offer local and contemporary perspectives on tattooing and identity, Immigration Museum has commissioned Documenting the Body: Curated by Stanislava Pinchuk. This series of four installations will be dispersed throughout all three levels of the Immigration Museum and include works by Stanislava Pincuk, Zaiba Khan, Brook Andrew, Angela Tiatia and Paul Stillen.
Tune into State of the Art on The Breakfast Spread Wednesday May 29 when curator and artist Stanislava Pincuk chats to Annika about the work.
For more information and tickets head to the Immigration Museum website.