NETS Victoria is pleased to announce the launch of the new touring exhibition Craftivism. Dissident Objects and Subversive Forms – a collaborative, playful and immersive exhibition featuring craft-based materialities with a political intent, by contemporary Australian artists and artist collectives.

Curated by Anna Briers, Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) Senior Curator, and Dr Rebecca Coates, SAM Director the exhibition will launch in Shepparton on 24 November 2018 before embarking on a national tour.

Craft, activism and social change have long been interlinked; they have crossed boundaries and borders, genders and generations. Craftivism. Dissident Objects and Subversive Forms evidences this moment in contemporary art, embracing craft techniques in order to explore and articulate the ideas and issues of our times.

Artists featured in the exhibition include: Catherine Bell, Karen Black, Penny Byrne, Erub Arts, Debris Facility, Starlie Geikie, Michelle Hamer, Kate Just, Deborah Kelly, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Raquel Ormella , Slow Art Collective, Tai Snaith, Hiromi Tango, James Tylor, Jemima Wyman and Paul Yore.

“Broadening our understanding of craft-making traditions, the artists in this exhibition subvert and extend these forms as vehicles for activism and social change, reflecting on the world in which we live. While some respond directly to artistic or political movements, others encourage social connection between community members with works that require participatory activation through collective processes,” – Anna Briers, SAM Senior Curator

Craftivism. Dissident Objects and Subversive Forms received an Exhibition Development Fund in 2017 which allowed SAM to commission an interactive and collaborative work by Slow Art Collective. The national tour has been supported with funding from Australia Council’s Contemporary Touring Initiative.  A 68 page catalogue will accompany the touring exhibition, featuring texts by Anna Briers, Jessica Bridgfoot, David Cross and Amelia Winata .

“We are excited to share this ambitious exhibition with our Victorian venues and interstate partners.  The exhibition will feature some fascinating public programming, tailored to each venue, allowing visitors the opportunity to engage deeper.” – Mardi Nowak, Director NETS Victoria.

Craftivism. Dissident Objects and Subversive Forms is a Shepparton Art Museum curated exhibition, touring nationally by NETS Victoria from November 2018 until late 2020.