Artists express why they’re here

FOR a trio of artists exhibiting as part of Ballarat Craft and Design Week, the question of why in mapping residents’ origins was often more important than how.

Robyn Barnett, Sylvia Aguirre and Diana Paez are presenting more than 60 works from themselves and other local artists in their installation Why are you here?

The pieces, many of which were produced in the exhibition’s workshops, ranged from poetry and textiles to multimedia content.

Barnett said that for some, the conversations artists had during the making of their work was “raw and so honest”.

“The focus was on them questioning and them discussing,” she said.

“The result of their artwork or their creative response was great, but I think that was allowing them then to really have the question in depth, and also for Diana to record some of those conversations.”

Paez, who contributed a multimedia work for the installation, said one of her friends had done a piece as well.

“She sent me a quote that said how in difficult times having a thread and needle is just like therapy,” Paez said.

Aguirre said the question of the exhibition was challenging.

“Some of the responses were quite in-depth and personal and there is healing to be done there,” she said.

“Sometimes it’s the silences that are better than asking.”

She said there were many reasons those who contributed called Ballarat home.

“Convention, heritage, space, being able to breathe,” Aguirre said.

“Healing, a healing place in the sense of nature, being surrounded by not such a massive place where you don’t find yourself boxed in like the city.”

The free exhibition officially opens tomorrow, Saturday 2 May, from 5pm to 7pm at the Unicorn Collection, 131 Sturt Street.

It will be open on Sunday 3 May, and then Thursdays to Sundays 10am to 4pm until 17 May.