Statement
“Wongan Katta Corridor” illuminates a path of vanishing histories, layered upon eternal stolen histories.
Vanessa Stasiw describes their images as coming from a very quiet, yet dynamic, personal meditative space. They find interest where art, nature and form intersect. In their continuing journeys, Stasiw turns their camera towards explorations of our natural, social and urban environments. Stasiw’s art practice centres on digital photography with a central focus within an Environmental and Spiritual Art practice lens. Stasiw was nominated as a finalist in the Perth Centre for Photography's UNCOVER 2012 Award to discover emerging Australian talent in photography series, followed by a successful first solo exhibition of CLOSE TO THE BONE within FotoFreo.
CLOSE TO THE BONE showed internationally at the world's largest photography event, the Scotiabank CONTACT PhotographyFestival in Toronto, Canada, 2013, and at the Next Festival in Edmonton, Stasiw’s artistic endeavors beyond photography include a presence as a ritual sound artist within the West Australian experimental/exploratory music scene.
Stasiw is a self-described refugee from the arts sector with a working background in the public relations field of independent film, cinema and theatre. Turning their passion and commitment towards social justice and love of the natural environment, Stasiw completed a BA in Sustainable Development/Media Studies in 2010. Stasiw considers true sustainability as a very personal, radical and human issue that strongly informs her visual arts practice.
When not making art through image and sound, Stasiw utilises their skills professionally in the Addiction Recovery sector. "I acknowledge the Ballardong, Yued and Whadjuk Noongar People as the original custodians of the land on which this artwork was created. I recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture and pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging."