Now on: Indian Ocean Craft Triennial 2024
Above: Abdi Setyawan (Indonesia) What else could we think about? - Bon Appetit, 2014, teak. ‘A landscape served at the dinner table, explaining that regional power is discussed and governed by those who can occupy seats at the circle of the table. What is the fate of those who are in the landscape?’ People are ‘invited’ to take the vacant seat at the table and be part of the conversation. Image supplied by IOTA 24.
The Indian Ocean Craft Triennial 2024 is now open and runs from August until October 2024 in Western Australia (WA) with a theme that reflectins on craft as a universal language.
The ‘international’ exhibition at the heart of IOTA24 highlights the work of craft artists and groups selected from six Indian Ocean countries - India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, South Africa, including First Nations Australians and Australians of diverse heritages. Many of the artists are expected to attend the opening of their installations, a pleasure not possible for IOTA21 artists due to closed borders during the pandemic.
The community-led ‘festival’ presents a further 60+ exhibitions in complement to the international exhibition. The craft community’s enthusiastic support of the craft triennial is primarily responsible for its continuance. And activates over 300 WA craftspeople, from Esperance to Broome, who have spent over two years planning and making work for IOTA24.
The Futuring Craft ‘conference’ will kick off with an Opening Keynote and Celebration at Curtin University’s School of Design and the Built Environment on Tuesday 3 September. Over the following three days anyone interested in a multitude of topics relating to crafts’ relationship to the environment, technology, science are encouraged to join the conversations, panel discussions and presentations (bookings essential).
As technology advances rapidly, so too, craft practices are flourishing. IOTA24 is an extraordinary and vibrant event. It invites the wider community to participate, to reflect on the intrinsic value of craft in our lives, across cultures and time, and also to consider innovative collaborations and ways that craft can drive future benefits.
IOTA24 is proudly supported by Major Partners Lotterywest and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, and Founding Partner Curtin University.
IOTA24 INTERNATIONAL features more than 30 artists at six locations, while IOTA24 festival venues number more than 60.