Dana Davenport curated by Nanette Orly
긴장 (that’s why I get so tired now)
22
November 2018
22
Nov
2018
14
Dec 2018
7UP
긴장 (that’s why I get so tired now)
Dana Davenport curated by Nanette Orly
22
November 2018
22
November
2018
14
December 2018
7UP
The title of this exhibition is derivative of a real-life conversation Davenport has had with her mother. It references a tension, the inability to relax and the pressure placed upon her family to defy social constructs that surround Blackness in a country that adheres to and reveres white ideals. This tension – this 긴장 (ginjang) – is explored through various mediums in Davenport’s artistic practice. She has created her own unique framework of self, one that resists categorisation and is explored using her own body, hair as a proxy for her body, text and language. In sharing her experiences, Davenport attempts to debunk national and racial constructs that seek to exotify and disjoin Black and Asian comradery and states that we are more akin than we have been led to live and believe. 긴장 (that’s why I get so tired now) is Davenport’s first solo exhibition in Australia, curated by Nanette Orly.
The title of this exhibition is derivative of a real-life conversation Davenport has had with her mother. It references a tension, the inability to relax and the pressure placed upon her family to defy social constructs that surround Blackness in a country that adheres to and reveres white ideals. This tension – this 긴장 (ginjang) – is explored through various mediums in Davenport’s artistic practice. She has created her own unique framework of self, one that resists categorisation and is explored using her own body, hair as a proxy for her body, text and language. In sharing her experiences, Davenport attempts to debunk national and racial constructs that seek to exotify and disjoin Black and Asian comradery and states that we are more akin than we have been led to live and believe. 긴장 (that’s why I get so tired now) is Davenport’s first solo exhibition in Australia, curated by Nanette Orly.
Nanette Orly
Nanette Orly is a curator based on Wiradjuri country. She has curated exhibitions and public programs across a number of arts organisations in Australia including Firstdraft, The Lock-Up and Bus Projects. She was a successful participant in 4A Curators’ Intensive 2018 program and her writing has appeared in Vault Magazine, Art Guide Australia, un Magazine and Running Dog. Enthusiastic about promoting curatorial practice; Nanette coordinated a full day symposium 'Independent Curating: Concepts, Challenges and Collabs' at Verge Gallery in 2019 and guest presented the episode 'Curators of Colour' for FBi Radio in Sydney. In 2020, Nanette was appointed Chairperson on the board of Runway Journal. During her two-year tenure, she initiated a close review of Runway Journal’s eighteen year old archive and opened the entire archive up to critique with the publication of 'Issue 42: Archive'. Nanette Orly is currently Curator at Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA).