Tarsh Bates
22 August - 30 October 2011
Curated by Megan Schlipalius
Studio Two
Residency: 22 August - 30 October, 2011.
Studio Opening: Tuesday 11 October, 6pm.
Tarsh Bates talks In vitero
Date: 30 Sept 2011
Where: Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts
Time: 3:30pm
Tarsh Bates is interested in the body as material and as a site of intervention, in evocative objects, and in the aesthetics of care: embodied encounters that are durational, affective, relational, proximal, and particular. Her practice is concerned with the aestheticisation of reproductive bodies, our capacity for alternative possibilities for care and reproduction, and the ambiguities of reproductivity in a biotechnological era. Bates explores these concepts through biology, sculpture and performance, using artistic and scientific tools to explore the nexus of bodies, ethics and culture.
Residency Description
In vitero is an artistic research project contributing to Tarsh's Master of Science (Biological Art) at SymbioticA, Centre of Excellence in Biological Arts at the University of Western Australia, which examines the evolution of 'somatic semantics' or ways of understanding through bodies. The project is an experiment in the aesthetics of care, which investigates the potential that sustained proximity and care can offer in exploring the relationship between the carer and cared-for. Aesthetic experiences of care are explored through prolonged engagement with eight other species of living organisms housed in customised glass vessels. The organisms, commonly used in reproductive biology, include fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), thrush (Candida albicans), thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), red bread mold (Neurospora crassa), soil nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans), water fleas (Daphnia pulex), slime mold (Physarum polycephalum), hydra (Hydra vulgaris) and tarsh, (Homo sapien sapiens).
In vitero is a durational performance occuring in two locations: a scientific laboratory at UWA and a public studio at PICA. After two and a half months in the laboratory, the project moves into Studio Two at PICA and will be open to the public throughout the residency. The organisms will be installed in the gallery in their customised vessels and the artist will live in the gallery with them. During this time at PICA Tarsh Bates proposes to engage in necessary and often mundane activities required for the care of the organisms and herself. Audience members are invited to participate, to spend time with and care for the organisms.
Tarsh Bates is interested in the potential that sustained proximity and care can offer in creating intimacy between the carer and cared-for. How do our behaviours change when we care for other bodies? What does it mean to care for fruit flies, slime mould, daphnia, hydra, or soil nematodes in a gallery? Is it possible to develop a different relationship between Candida albicans (commonly known as thrush) and humans by caring for it? How do we care for creatures that are not cute, furry or even visible? Is it appropriate - or ethical - to contain organisms in glass terrariums and keep them for our own purposes, aesthetic, cultural, educational or scientific?
Follow the blog and be part of the discussion at In vitero Tumblr
In vitero is an ArtScience research project enabled by SymbioticA, the Centre of Excellence in Biological Art, UWA. It has received generous support from the Tea Tree Oil Research Group; Microbiology & Immunology, UWA; the School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University; the Aquatic Ecology & Ecosystem Studies, SESE, UWA; Plant Energy Biology, UWA; & the SABC, Murdoch University.
Tarsh Bates' studio will be open to the public Tues- Sun, 11am-6pm from 3 September-30 October.
Artist Bio
Tarsh Bates (b. 1973, Beaudesert, Australia) studied Biotechnology and Environmental science at Murdoch University and contemporary sculpture and performance at Edith Cowan University. She is currently a candidate for a Master of Science (Biological Art) at SymbioticA, UWA. Selected group exhibitions include: books and boats, spECtrUm Project Space, Perth (2005), Sculpture Survey 2004, Gomboc Gallery Sculpture Park, Perth (2004), String Me A Story: An exhibition of hand plied string and text, spECtrUm project space, Perth (2004). Selected performances include: the descent of man, SymbioticA, Perth (2010), bare, tripart collaborative performance with Brooke Zeligman, Claire Canham and Emma Paterson, d&k presents, PICA, & FreeRange Gallery, ARTopia Festival, Perth (2005), live art by, collaborative live performance,The Midland National Review of Live Art, Perth (2003). The artist has also participated in workshops & performances with international artists, including Richard Layzell, lone twin, Shilpa Gupta & Sarah-Jane Pell.
Image: Tarsh Bates, Physarum polycephalum (slime mold), 2011. Courtesy of Tarsh Bates
