Archives of Feeling: Sensation, Connection, Community at RMIT Design Hub Gallery from 19 August to 8 October 2022

Archives of Feeling: Sensation, Connection, Community
18.08.2022 – 07.10.2022

The complex repercussions of traumatic experiences, whether collective or individual, are often feelings we navigate alone. Archives of Feeling imagines new ways of sharing the felt dimensions of trauma. In this exhibition, artists share personal connections, lived experiences and the impacts of trauma on themselves and their communities. Collectively, they form an archive of works that navigate the trauma of institutions, colonialism and isolation.

Combining creative practice with socially-engaged models of community collaboration, Archives of Feeling transforms the gallery into a living, growing and sensorial archive of feelings, encouraging us to explore, learn and unlearn. Spanning RMIT Gallery and Design Hub Gallery, this exhibition presents practical and thought-provoking resources for living with trauma, offering new ways of archiving experience and of experiencing archives.

Includes the following projects and artists: Che-Wei Chen, the Children's Sensorium, Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women's Council Aboriginal Corporation, the Nurses and Midwives Art Exchange and Thembi Soddell.

The Children's Sensorium includes works by Tamara Borovica, Heather Hesterman, Fiona Hillary, Larissa Hjorth, Live Particle (Angela Clarke and Camilla Maling), Philip Samartzis, Anna Schwann and Hiromi Tango, with leading artistic direction from Boonwurrung elder N'arweet Carloyn Briggs, and with designs by Anthony Clarke.

The Nurses and Midwives Art Exchange includes works by nurses and midwives who have worked through the pandemic accompanied by works created by local artists, with public programming by Ruth De Souza.

Collectively produced by: Kelly Hussey-Smith, Grace McQuilten, Helen Rayment and Andrew Tetzlaff, and with the support of Jill Bennett, Renata Kokanovic and a community advisory.

Please follow this link for the Archives of Feeling exhibition catalogue.

This exhibition is being presented at multiple venues:

Archives of Feeling: Sensation, Connection, Community will run from Friday 19 August 2022 to Saturday 8 October 2022 at RMIT Design Hub Gallery.
Archives of Feeling: Trauma, Knowledge, Empathy will run from Wednesday 21 September 2022 to Saturday 10 December 2022 at RMIT Gallery.

This exhibition is a part of The Big Anxiety.

The Big Anxiety logo

Projects in this exhibition have been supported by VicHealth, RMIT CAST Research Group, Speciality Trees, The Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women's Council Aboriginal Corporation, Smiling Mind, Taipei Fine Arts Museum and Creative Victoria.

Public Program

Archives of Feeling: Public Program

NPY Women’s Council’s Uti Kulintjaku Collective Performance
Saturday October 8, 1pm
Join Uti Kulintjaku Collective for a celebratory performance of their work in Archives of Feeling: Sensation, Connection, Community.
Uti Kulintjaku Collective will be speaking in Pitjantjatjara . A translator will be present at the event.
Secure your ticket here.

UnKnowing Madness
Presented in partnership with +Concepts
Saturday October 8, 4:00 – 4:30pm
This concert will present a new sound composition by sound artist Thembi Soddell made in collaboration with Amrita Dasvarma, Melis Layik, Kim Le and Hassaan Memon.
Secure your ticket here.

Children’s Sensorium Public Programs
For Children 4 – 11 years
For school group bookings to the Children’s Sensorium, please see the full program here.

Make your own Skycharm
Tuesday September 20, 11:30 – 12:30pm
Children Sensorium artist Anna Schwann explores various smells with children before they choose their own to include in their very own scented skycharm to take home or gift to a friend.

Book here.

What’s that Sound?
Friday September 30, 11:30 – 12:30pm
Sound artist Philip Samartzis takes kids through the wonderful sounds of the children’s sensorium in this interactive workshop. Kids will travel to new places in an exploration of sound.

Book here.

Gallery Gardening
Children gain gardening knowledge by investigating familiar edible and ornamental plants, observing their structure using microscopes and magnifying glasses with artist Heather Hesterman. They will learn the propagating process to replicate at home or school.

Book here.

Miniature Worlds
Guided by artist Heather Hesterman, children look closely at plants and respond with observational, imaginary drawing as they get creative exploring the micro-structures of plants using magnifying glasses and microscopes.

Book here.

Connecting to Country
Children discover how to connect to and build knowledge of the Country we are on and its contributions to wellbeing. Exploring Country through cultural practices, dance, food and language with N’arweet Carolyn Briggs.

Book here.

Exploring Senses
Children are introduced to simple mindfulness, sensory awareness and play-based activities aiming to equip them with tools and techniques they can use independently to manage intense emotions with Live Particle.

Book here.

Move, Sound, Touch, Play
Live Particle use carefully selected sensory objects and tools as entry points into embodied play: moving, vocalising, imagining, mindful touch and tactile resistance. The strategies are experiential, often non-verbal and provide creative strategies to manage physical and mental wellbeing.

Book here.

The Future of Play

Children learn the power of play as a core literacy. Circulating between a series of play stations, children discover play based learning to regulate emotions.

Book here.

Movement, Meditation and Dance

Using playful, mindful movement and dance strategies’ this workshop aims to equip families with simple tools to navigate emotional challenges in fun and child-friendly ways with Tamara Borovica.

Book here.