The Zoom Garden – Helen Bezzina
ABOUT THE WORK
Venue
The recent phenomena of Zoom inspired my work during the ongoing COVID pandemic. Over the past two years, I spent over 5 hours a day with work, social and community meetings on Zoom; the result is a large series of Zoom-based drawings. This is an experience I have chosen to explore in this artwork; Zoom Gardens.
Drawing is central to my practice as a researcher, art therapist and artist and finding myself constantly within the zoom realm, I naturally turned to drawing; it allows me to trace the edges of others' being', to bear witness, helping me make sense of my world, and make this zoom garden visible. Working within a phenomenological approach, I focus, through drawing, on the connections we established as we function within this technological living garden, tending to each other, together side-by-side, but essentially alone. Drawing is cathartic; it allows me to focus and look again, connecting me to the luminous figures within Zoom, a liminal in-between space, supporting wellbeing within this Zoom garden.
Blackstone Gallery.
470 Hunter St, Newcastle NSW 2300
Exhibition open
1st - 5th November
Opening Night
Friday, 3rd November
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Time and Date
Dr. Helena Bezzina is a highly experienced Creative Industries professional, artist and teacher, having worked in museums, galleries and universities in Australia and South-East Asia for more than 20 years. Originally an artist and art-educator, Helena has worked in the corporate sector (with Apple Computers), was the Director of Undergraduate Studies at Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore, worked for the National Museum of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery, Singapore’s Asian Civilisations Museum, and more recently the Newcastle Art Gallery. Helena has a Master’s Degree in Art & Design Education and completed a PhD on the role of museums in positioning national discourse.
Helena was also a Lecturer in Museum Studies at the School of Art Education, College of Fine Arts, University of NSW and in 2006 won the Best Paper Award at the Museums Australia Conference for her paper: Peranakan: The Role of Collections in Nation Building.
In 2022 Helena completed a Master’s in Art Therapy, focusing on developing wellbeing programs for museums and galleries. Her research interests focus on museums as potential sites for health and wellbeing.
Artist Bio
Chromatic Festival and The University of Newcastle acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal Nation, Darkinjung Nation, Biripai Nation, Worimi Nation, Wonnarua Nation and Eora Nation. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.
Chromatic Festival and The University of Newcastle recognise that First Nations sovereignty was never ceded. This continent always was and always will be Aboriginal Land.
We respect their cultural heritage, beliefs, and continuing relationship with the land, and recognise that they are the proud survivors of more than two hundred years of dispossession.