IOTA24: Interactive Foot-print Performance

Fremantle Shipping News was recently invited to attend Codes of Parallel: Pangrok Sulap interactive foot-printing performance in the Project Research Space at Curtin University, Bentley on 26 July.

As we previously reported after the launch of IOTA24, the Indian Ocean Craft Triennial runs from 1 August through October. Artists from six Indian Ocean countries — India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, South Africa and Australia are currently in our State for a convergence of culture through craft. A wide range of international jewellery, woodwork, ceramics and textiles will be exhibited.

The Pangrok Sulap collective had already spent over two weeks at an Artsource Residency in the Old Customs House, Fremantle – right next door to the Shipping News’ studio. They worked day and night preparing six large connecting boards with detailed carved designs, measuring over twelve metres long. On the day of the performance, the boards were painted with special ink and a length of cotton fabric was carefully rolled on top.

Then the fun began! Shoes were kicked off and we joined the Pangrok Sulap collective who performed original folk music. We danced in circles on the woodcut performing the traditional ‘Sumazau’ dance of Sabah – the Malaysian State located on the northern portion of Borneo in east Malaysia. The crowd’s weight transferred the ink onto the finished print. It was delightful being part of the collective creativity of one’s fellow human beings.

Then it was time for the big reveal! The printed cotton was carefully peeled from the woodcut – with an absolutely stunning result. The finished artwork is titled ‘Hope and Root’ and will be exhibited at John Curtin Gallery for IOTA24: Codes in Parallel. The exhibition opens 2 August and runs to 29 September 2024.

This project is part of a residency for IOTA24 and is supported by the Australian ASEAN Council, My Creative Ventures Group, Malaysia, John Curtin Gallery and Artsource.

As part of IOTA24, there will be 70 statewide satellite community exhibitions featuring more than 300 local artists and art organisations in 30 towns and cities from Esperance to Broome. Fremantle Arts Centre, John Curtin Gallery and Holmes a Court Gallery @No.10 will host group exhibitions, supported by solo shows at Bunbury, Melville and Rockingham. The event hopes to amplify the theme of ‘Codes in Parallel’, connecting communities through a celebration of craft, culture and collaboration.

To find out more, look here.

By Jean Hudson

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