In addition to the international exhibition at Fremantle Arts Centre and John Curtin Gallery,
a festival program of exhibitions and events is presented by craft artists, galleries, art spaces and craft groups in support of the IOTA21 themes.
With a mission to show the complexity and diversity of Australian jewellery talent to audiences outside this country, Connexions invited artists from a range of cultural backgrounds to share their works. On display are new pieces by Emily Beckley – Indigenous artist from Horn Island in the Torres Strait; Fatemeh Boroujeni – an ethnic Bakhtiari who was born in Iran; Eden Lennox – Perth artist with Jewish, Irish, French, and Australian ancestry; Sultana Shamshi – born in Bombay, India, has lived Europe, Southeast Asia and for a long time Perth; Melissa Cameron – former immigrant to the USA, recently returned; and Blandine Hallé – born in France, lives in Perth and Paris.
Connexions had a pandemic-abbreviated debut at the Parcours Bijoux International Triennial in 2020 at Galerie Assemblages in France and will finally be shown in full at IOTA21 in Perth.
See the nuanced and diverse works we have created, highlighting the depth and richness of cultural influence, and talent, in this place.
Blandine Halle, Francaustralian 1, 2020, Mango seed husks, patinated copper, 30 x 30 x 1cm. Photo: Rob Frith
Eden Lennox, Signal, 2020, Wood, acrylic, copper, stainless steel, 40 x 30 x 3cm. Photo: Rob Frith
Melissa Cameron, A/US 01, 2020, Found coat hanger (USA), found steel (Australia), vitreous enamel, steel, 85 x 23 x 1cm. Photo: Rob Frith