Exquisite Bias

‘Exquisite Bias’ is an exhibition of collaborative audio-visual portraits, exploring unconscious racial bias and cultural identity in contemporary Australia.

Presented by Delia Poon, Pia Johnson and Melinda Hetzel & Co.

Exquisite Bias invites Darebin locals to have their photograph taken and record their answer to the question, ‘Where do you come from?’ Echoing the collective drawing game ‘Exquisite Corpse,’ however, the images and biographies are mixed up. These collaborative portraits are presented in a rolling slideshow along with mis-matched sound bights, creating new combinations of lived experience and visual identity. Exquisite Bias playfully invites the audience to question our own assumptions about what it is to be Australian, and what this looks like.

Exquisite Bias opens with an artist talk by Delia Poon at Preston Library, 2pm 11 March. Tickets are free, but registrations are required. To register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/exquisite-bias-exhibition-launch-tickets-528908749307?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Preston Library hours:
Monday:10am – 8pm, Tuesday: 10am – 8pm, Wednesday: 10am – 8pm, Thursday: 10am – 10pm, 
Friday: 10am – 8pm, Saturday: 10am – 4pm, Sunday: 11am – 5pm

"Delia Poon and Melinda Hetzel's Mysteries of the Convent is one of those rare shows that will stay with you for days afterwards."
— Zoe Marron, BEAT magazine
"Mysteries of the Convent ’08 is gorgeous, delicate and inspiring."
— Anne-Marie Peard, Aussie Theatre online
"A fine out-of-theatre experience."
— Tim Richards, The Age
"They're known for works that challenge and provoke whilst also entertaining and enchanting audiences with both the beautiful and the grotesque."
— Jan Chandler, Australian Stage Online
"There were moments of sweeping beauty, one sequence with a revealed overhead projection that used water to effect it was transformative."
— Martyn Coutts
"This is simply one of the most exhilarating, magical and haunting theatre experiences I’ve had in a long time."
— Lisa Clark, thegroggysquirrel.com
"Masterfully subtle control of attention."
— John Bailey, RealTime

Proudly supported by the FUSE Fund

DELIA POON

Delia (Lead Artist/Collaborator) is a musician, educator, composer and emerging interdisciplinary artist of Chinese-Australian heritage. While she has lived and worked in Darebin for almost twenty years, she grew up in regional Victoria, where her experiences lead to a lifelong interest in racial and cultural injustice. She has worked professionally across Melbourne’s music scene as an instrumentalist in various bands and orchestras, while exploring sound design and composition on her own projects and in education. Delia lives on Wurundjeri Country in Reservoir with her family and cats. www.deliapoon.com

MELINDA HETZEL

Melinda (Collaborator/Creative Producer) is a director and interdisciplinary artist working across performance and installation. Melinda is Artistic Director of Darebin-based collective, Melinda Hetzel & Co., specialising in collaborative arts activations within public space. Melinda was previously Founding Artistic Director of award-winning, theatre company, Peepshow Inc. 2003-13. She has presented a wide range of work across Australia, as well as in Germany and Singapore. Melinda lives on Wurundjeri Country in Preston. Melindahetzel.com

PIA JOHNSON

Pia (Collaborator/Photographer) is a photographer and visual artist, curator and educator, whose practice emerged out of a concern with issues of cultural identity and difference, stemming from her mixed background of Chinese and Italian-Australian descent. Pia has been exhibited across Australia and internationally; and is collected in private and public collections including the National Gallery of Victoria. Known as one of Australia’s distinctive performance photography and portrait artists, Pia has commissions from all the major and small to medium performing arts organisations in Australia, including having a long-time working collaboration with Darebin City Council. Pia lives on Dja Dja Wurrung Country with her family. www.piajohnson.com

Event & ticketing details

Accessibility

Accessible Toilet
Changing Places Logo Inverse V3 Changing Place
Closed Caption
Relaxed Performance

Dates & Times

11-26 March Various times

Location

Preston Library

266 Gower St, Preston VIC 3072

Get directions

Train

Preston Station

Tram

Route 86, Stop 48

Bus

Routes 527, 552, 553
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