Over 200 craft artists, designer-makers and artisans are making work for the first IOTA21, due to take place in Western Australia from September to November.
The anchor exhibition will take place at two venues John Curtin Gallery and Fremantle Arts Centre, which will present significant installations by 35 artists from 8 Indian Ocean countries. They are currently making works on a grand scale, in collaboration with a further 100+ artisans.
A festival of over 40 events, exhibitions, residencies and workshops will be presented in support of these key artists and the IOTA21 themes, across regional and metro WA.
Curiosity and Rituals of the Everyday
Stories of our everyday rituals and contemporary preoccupations will be captured within the handmade, demonstrating the ubiquitous nature of craft in all our lives, past, present and future.
The umbrella theme of ‘Curiosity and Rituals of the Everyday’ embraces works that may have traditionally been grouped as:
Votive: describing systems and formalities of belief
Family/Utility: objects with their roots in function and domestic use
Shelter: referencing the architectures of physical protection
Adornment: a process of embellishment or beautification.
The selected artists work across a diversity of medium and craft techniques. They use their skills to tell the stories of now, of their cultural heritage, of urgency and agency.
Join us at the first Indian Ocean Craft Triennial
The wider community festival of IOTA21: Indian Ocean Craft Triennial is supported by Lotterywest.
Where will the Triennial take place?
Perth, Fremantle and regional centres, Western Australia (WA)
How can I take part?
Artists have been selected and confirmed.
Participate by pre-purchasing a work to support an artisan to present his work at IOTA21.
Be a patron in the traditional ‘Medici’ sense by directly supporting a specific artist or group of artists from a specific country to make, pack and send their work to Perth for the exhibition. Due to the COVID-19 impact both materials and freight costs have increased dramatically. Livelihoods have been lost. Contact us about who most urgently needs support.
If you would like to volunteer please use the contact form.
Key Venue Partners
John Curtin Gallery and Fremantle Arts Centre
Key Dates*
Thursday 20 May 2021: Program Launch of the IOTA21 Key Artists and Festival events.
Opening Events*
- Thursday 9 September: VIP preview, IOTA21 exhibition at John Curtin Gallery.
- Friday 17 September: IOTA21 Opening Celebration, Fremantle Arts Centre.
- 17-19 September: Futuring Craft Conference, WA Maritime Museum & Curtin University
- Sunday 19 September: IOTA21 Fashion Event – Curiosity & The Cloth, WA Museum Boola Bardip
*all dates are subject to change and subject to COVID-19 restrictions and government health advice.
Supporting venue partners across Perth Metro & Regional Western Australia
Festival venues and presenters include, but are not limited to:
Art Gallery of Western Australia; Art Collective WA; Artitja Fine Art; Bunbury Regional Art Gallery; CASM: Contemporary Art Space Mandurah; City of Melville; City of Wanneroo; Ellenbrook Arts; Fremantle Arts Centre; Gallery Central / North Metro TAFE; Gallery East; Geraldton Project / Geraldton Regional Gallery; Gwoonwardu Mia – Gascoyne Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural Centre; Goolugatup Heathcote; Holmes à Court Gallery – Perth & Vasse Felix; Jewellers & Metalsmiths Group (WA) / Old Customs House; John Curtin Gallery; Kidogo ArtHouse; Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery; Lost Eden Gallery – Dwellingup; Midland Junction Arts Centre; Mundaring Arts Centre; Perth Studio Potters / Burt St Gallery; PICA; Spare Parts Puppet Theatre; Stirling St Arts Centre, Bunbury; The Junction Co / Courthouse Gallery, Port Hedland; WA Museums – Boola Bardip, Geraldton, Goldfields & Great Southern; WAFTA; York Festival & Gallery 152.