Image: Jeff Busby
PERFORMANCE | ZOË BASTIN
CELESTIAL
SAT 06 APR 4.30-5.00PM
FREE TO ATTEND
LOCATED IN THE GALLERY FOYER + STAIRWELL
-
Monday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Tuesday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Wednesday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Thursday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Saturday 10.00am - 3.00pm
Sunday closed
-
Audiences are advised that there will be some full-frontal nudity in Celestial. This performance will run one time on 6 April from approximately 4:30-4:45pm.
If anyone wishes to not be present during this performance, please remain in Gallery One.
-
Platform Arts is wheelchair-accessible via our Gheringhap St entrance. Unlocked, accessible bathrooms are available on both ground and first floors.
For accessibility enquiries, please directly contact us at hello@platformarts.org.au
Celestial (floating, falling, flying)
Step into a world of transcendence as Celestial reimagines angels as heralds of the queer extraordinary. Drawing inspiration from Renaissance painting, this performance delves into the timeless nature and ethereal essence of angels beyond binary forms of gender and sexuality. In Celestial, angels transcend the boundaries of human existence, emerging as radiant symbols of light.
Celestial explores the profound connection between spirituality, identity, and self-discovery, resonating with contemporary dialogues on gender, identity, and finding meaning in politically dark times. This performance is an iteration of ongoing dance research.
Drawing on the history of the Renaissance and religious paintings from the era, Celestial speaks to Florence and Tuscany as an epicentre of homosexual activity in the 15th and 16th century. Celestial thinks deeply about histories of queer subversion, deploying religious iconography from a historic queer Renaissance to reconsider our contemporary moment.
In a world engaged in dialogues on queerness, acceptance, and self-discovery, this project resonates with the fluid and diverse nature of human experiences. By inviting audiences to contemplate profound questions about the meaning and purpose of life on earth, Celestial encourages individuals to discover and embrace the radiant and transcendent light within themselves.
This performance is presented alongside FAIRY, an exhibition curated by Spiros Panigirakis and Mel Deerson.
-
Zoë Bastin is an artist who works with dance and choreography to dream up speculative queer worlds. As an artist deeply invested in building community she often writes, curates projects, runs public programs and works as an academic, alongside leading projects with lots of collaborators. Bastin's focus on choreography explores its connection to architecture and the atmospheric conditions of space, resulting in transformative environments.
Zoë recently founded her own name sake company Zoë Bastin Dance, that champions diversity, queer representation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Her projects have been supported and presented at Abbotsford Convent, Chunky Move, Counihan Gallery, Dancehouse, Deakin University Art Gallery, Mornington Peninsula Regional Art Gallery, Midsumma Festival, School Of Art and Design Gallery Australian National University, SUBSTATION, Temperance Hall, Villa Lena Art Fondazione Tuscany Italy and West Space among others.
-
Celestial has previously been supported by Villa Lena Art Fondazione.
Lead Artist & Choreographer - Zoë Bastin
Composer - Grace Ferguson
Writer/ Creative Correspondent - Jo Bragg
Dancer - Alexandra Dobson
Dramaturg - Philipa Rothfield
Advisor/Outside Eye - Helen Grogan of Open Practice Studio
