Site Lines: Tarik Ahlip, Linda Brescia, Heath Franco, Abdullah M.I. Syed — 26 July to 16 August 2014

Parramatta Artists Studios at The Cross Art Projects

Curator: Sophia Kouyoumdjian
Conversation: Saturday 26 July 2014 at 3pm
Dates: 26 July to 16 August 2014

The Cross Art Projects is pleased to host a fine selection of recent studio works by Tarik Ahlip, Linda Brescia, Heath Franco and Abdullah M.I. Syed, accompanied by artist talks about how a programmed artist studio can bring together a wide range of artistic voices to explore new forms of production and interaction. Similarly, a theme in the curatorial narrative of The Cross Art Projects is how artists work by collaboration, communication and exchange within their communities.

At a time in Australia when arts funding is increasingly tight, strong cultural leadership is emerging from some enlightened local governments. Parramatta Artists Studios, located in the heart of Western Sydney with a population of two million people, is a key reflective node of everyday realities and public engagement for artists.

The studios maintain a vital public presence via a street-level exhibition space and through an innovative annual program of community events, workshops and arts activities.

Tarik Ahlip, Civil Bodies I, 2014.
Plaster and found plant matter
200 x 200 x 550 mm. Marquette.

Abdullah M.I. Syed, Studies for Deconstruction of the myth of the flying rug (Orientalism for Sale series), 2011-2012. hand-cut 1US$, 66 x 155 mm (1US$ flying rug).

Heath Franco, HOMETOWN, 2014. HD Digital Video, colour, stereo sound. Duration: 9 minutes 29 seconds

When the important art school at University of Western Sydney closed, Parramatta Artists Studios helped take up the slack of nurturing local artists. As the housing affordability crisis continues to push artists out of their traditional inner-city beat, other networks have emerged linking artists.

Overlooking Parramatta’s city hub, the facility includes fourteen non-residential studios and one residential studio in an unlikely commercial office building. Studios are affordable and allocated to a combination of emerging and established artists.

Linda Brescia in studio. Photo Alex Wisser.

Abdullah M.I. Syed in studio. Photo Alex Wisser.

Artists and Curator

Tarik Ahlip is an emerging artist with degrees in architecture (UNSW) and now visual art (printmaking major at CoFA). Although this is his first major group show, he continues to work in architecture including in set-design.

Linda Brescia was seen in character in The Cross Art Projects window for SafARI LIVE Earlier this year. This is an opportunity to view the studio work (painting and printmaking to sculpture) that complements her unnerving performance work. Bresica investigates the complex experiences of everyday life ranging from banal to extraordinary.  At lindabrescia.com

Heath Franco’s installation and video works often feature the windswept landscape of his home town of Cooma, NSW, with big box store costuming and special effects toughened by tones of menace or pantomime horror. His debut in 2013 at the MCA’s annual Primavera led to an exhibition at Galerie pompom.

Multi-disciplinary work by Abdullah M.I Syed highlights concerns about topics such as immigration, the War on Terror, as well as East and West political relations. He identifies subtle differences in ways of thinking and how attitudes to race, sex and religion are impacted by the devastation of conflicts and war. Syed works as an artist-printmaker, teacher and curator moving between Karachi and Sydney.

Sophia Kouyoumdjian has worked in the arts sector for over fifteen years across directorial, curatorial and exhibition management roles. Currently she is coordinator of Parramatta Artists Studios and was previously the acting Director and curator at Blacktown Arts Centre.

Exhibition opening, The Cross Art Projects

Artist Talks, The Cross Art Projects