Welcome to the AUGUST 2008 newsletter from www.rebeccaswan.com

New work- subverting the music box.

My new kinetic sculptural works were in my recent solo exhibition, Fabricated Truths, at Mark Hutchins Gallery.  In this series of work I was interested in twisting the highly feminised object of the music box.  The plinkity plink of familiar tunes were intended to induce a sense of childhood nostalgia whist the scenarios playing out where not from any normative collective memory.

Each box was wall mounted to encourage the audience to wind them up, open the lid and play with the moving parts inside.

“Total immersion became my escape”
Mixed media, 2008

“I don’t let just anyone into my box”
Mixed media and photography, 2008

“When I first saw her I thought, she can put her slippers under my bed”
Mixed media and photography, 2008

In most of the kinetic sculptures, I incorporated photographic elements to extend the narrative. In the exhibition there were also photographic works. These were dioramas that I’d created and then photographed.  I really enjoyed the interdisciplinary components of the exhibition.

“We set up house not knowing if our furniture would work together.”
Mixed media and photography 2008
C-Type print on metallic paper

The full exhibition can be viewed on http://www.mhgallery.co.nz/.

Assume Nothing- Celebrating gender diversity
Photographs by Rebecca Swan and Films by Kirsty MacDonald

Assume Nothing closes at TheNewDowse on August 31st after an amazingly successful five months.  I would like to thank everyone involved for making it such a profound experience, especially the people in the photographs and the films who shared their stories so generously.  I did manage to travel to visit the exhibition three times and every time I stepped into the gallery space I was deeply moved as if being touched by the work for the first time. 

Rebecca Swan at entrance of Assume Nothing at TheNewDowse, photo Adi Brown.

Below is a statement from TheNewDowse

Since opening in April 2008 in grand transgender style, Assume Nothinghas challenged and greatly moved audiences. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with expressions of gratitude coming from within and outside the trans communities. The response has clearly demonstrated a keen desire for insight and openness.

The project has also provided a significant platform for the promotion and discussion in the wider community of the Transgender Inquiry, a groundbreaking report released by the Human Rights Commission in January 2008. TheNewDowse partnered with the Human Rights Commission to present a series of workshops based on the inquiry as part of Assume Nothing. As with the exhibition, the reception of these workshops demonstrated a desire for dialogue and exchange within the wider community.

Assume Nothing will tour next to Te Manawa in Palmerston North 16 Feb -24 May 2009.

The Assume Nothing photographic works are represented by Mark Hutchins Gallery, at 216 Willis Street, Wellington http://www.mhgallery.co.nz/

Newsletters

If you would like to read earlier newsletters, you can on:
http://www.rebeccaswan.com/newsletters/jan07.htm
http://www.rebeccaswan.com/newsletters/july07.htm
http://www.rebeccaswan.com/newsletters/jan08.htm
http://www.rebeccaswan.com/newsletters/apr08.htm

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So that's the latest news for now, thanks for your interest.
I'll write to you again in a few months.

Rebecca Swan