23.01.2020 - 23.02.2020
Cement Fondu - Project Space / Eme - 'We Matter’
To coincide with An Appropriate Reaction, the Project Space presents Eme and a new iteration of the installation We Matter. We Matter is a project that was conceived in 2015 as a response to the everyday sexism that people face on a daily basis. Sydney folk submitted statements of their personal experiences of sexist violence, which were then embroidered by Eme on donated and second-hand bras.
In the Project Space, these bras are presented in a non-hierarchical single line around the room with each corresponding personal statement displayed on fabric. The installation is accompanied with the ‘We Matter’ zine, drawn and produced by Eme, which also gives space to these experiences. Also featured in the installation are protest banners by Anti-Colonial Asian Alliance (a group of mostly asian folks in solidarity with First Nations Peoples), an informative video and brochures produced by international network Liyang, who provide advocacy for Sabokahan, Lumad (Indigenous – Mindanao, Philippines) women and children in struggle of land, livelihood and self-determination. The ‘We Matter’ zine and Lumad colouring books are available to purchase in the Art Store with all funds donated to Sabokahan – Unity of Lumad Women. - Cement Fondu
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It is a great privilege to be showing at Cement Fondu’s Project Space for ‘Appropriate Reaction’, a month-long exhibition/events responding to Audre Lorde’s 1981 speech, ‘The Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism.’
I am humbled to be occupying this space along with amazing creatives on Gadigal land of the Eora Nation, to once again, reiterate the call to action to end all forms of oppression on a personal and collective level. These racist and sexist experiences are interconnected, ongoing, layered and requires bayanihan (communal love & solidarity). Please support grassroots organisations @sabokahan , @liyang and @aaa_syd ! Link in their bios to donate directly. The Lumad colouring book ($20) and We Matter zines ($10) are currently selling at the online gallery shop, with all proceeds going directly to the immediate and long-term needs of Lumad (Indigenous) communities of Mindanao, Philippines. The collaboration with Liyang Network, Sabokahan & Anti-colonial Asian Alliance is one of the ways in which individuals can use their privilege to support/fight alongside Indigenous/First Nations causes on the land they’re on and their homeland. Indigenous sovereignty is climate justice, the fight for our survival is acting on ways we can abolish destructive colonial & capitalist structures and thinking that have been normalised in our everyday.
Photo credit: Jessica Maurer