In episode 14, Mel Granley curator of Tender Touch spends time with participating artists Gerry Kramer, Simran Dhaliwal, Kaman Lu, and Grae Salisbury talking about their histories, practices, and considerations around tattooing in Victoria. The exhibition Tender Touch, at the Gallery November 2023 to May 2024, explores the city’s growing tattoo community and the art practice as a source of bodily autonomy and trust.

In this podcast, the curators of the recent exhibition Symbiosis, Jaimie Isaac and Mel Granley, speak with a sample selection of participating artists from the show and explore resonant themes between works, and ideas around fungi and forest ecologies. The exhibition Symbiosis examined all things mycelial and boreal, with emphasis on climate action, Indigenous perspectives and knowledge, pop-culture, and multispecies futurities. The curators delve into conversation with artists Diane Borsato, Rande Cook and Sarah Jim, speaking about their works in the exhibition as well as their artistic practices at large. 

Relationality is a central tenant within Symbiosis, as the exhibition contemplates the relationship between mycelium, tree systems, and how all things prosper when our forests are in good health. Through this podcast the curators aim to expand upon the relationships forged between themselves and the artists, in keeping with the idea of good relations. 

Feature Image: Stars and Spores, Sarah Jim, painting on panel. Installation image from Symbiosis, courtesy of the AGGV.

In this episode Marianne Nicolson, Gerry Ambers and Seneca Ambers share a glimpse into the layers of conversations that unfolded throughout the exhibition, Woven In: Indigenous Women's Activism and Media. This conversation, recorded in May 2023 near the closing of the show, reflects broadly on the intergenerational grassroots leadership and anticolonial organizing led by Indigenous women at the heart of Woven In. (Listen to Episode 10 to hear the conversation that was recorded during the opening celebration for the exhibition.)