Staff Profiles
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Ms Rachel Kierath
BA (Art) (C1 Honours)
MA (Visual Art)
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- Role:
- Sessional Academic
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- Department:
- Department of Art
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- Location:
- Art 177
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- Telephone:
- +61 8 9266 3561
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- Email:
- r.kierath@curtin.edu.au
Rachel is a Lecturer in the Department of Art, School of Design and Art, within the faculty of Humanities, teaching in Photography and Media Arts. She also coordinates Short Courses for the School of Design and Art, overseeing courses in various art related disciplines, intensive Master classes and many secondary-student driven initiatives for enhancing art practice, engagement and study. The link to this page, detailing the courses available is:
http://humanities.curtin.edu.au/schools/DA/art/short_courses.cfm
Rachel's own arts practice explores the existence of the continual cycle of matter eternally suspended within a process of change. Her work asserts and privilieges all matter (tangible/intangible, in/animate objects) as within a state of flux; growth and decay; perpetual change ad infinitum.
Never concrete, always shifting....
Rachel's practice sheds light upon works that ‘perform’ and are still ‘within process’ as opposed to a final or 'finished' body of work. The works themselves are continually under construction- never stagnant, always changing and altering from day to day, week to week or year to year, decade to decade…
Research Interests
Rachel is particularly interested in the synergies between Photography, both analogue/digital and video/performative media, and is supportive of these interdisciplinary approaches within her teaching.
The origins of her practice are borne from an intrinsic connection to the language of the photographic visual image. Photography (particularly Polaroid and photography as an 'immediate' form), in conjunction with digital media capabilities and traditional printmaking, are elements of a rich and interdisciplinary approach to her practice within the studio. With an alchemical approach, fusing chemistry and organic materials within the surface of her prints, the act of the studio work itself, the process and the encounter, becomes an innately rich facet of her research. Rachel's current project, entitled An Anthology of Encounters (the never-ending project) looks at the resultant performative power of the image and the impermanence of the photographic substance as a visual parallel, a tangible memento-mori, for the impermanence of life. Her practice also sheds light on the intimate space between collaborators, invited participants that work alongside and interact with Rachel on the project, exhibiting a hermeneutic approach to the installation process whereby all aspects of the whole (the environment of work) and the time-based experience between participants is essential to understanding the inherent meaning within the project. Process is privileged within her practice as well as curatorial concerns within the 'gallery' space that are able to honour this continual evolution of the (never-ending) project.
Rachel’s practice is inextricably linked to Impermanence; not only on a pragmatic and physical level, but also the philosophical, lived experience.
Research Projects
Current: Doctor of Philosophy: Intimate Encounters project is a research undertaking that will shed both a metaphoric and literal light upon the honouring of the lived and embodied experience. Referencing Habermas’ lifeworld and the Hermeneutic Circle, the project will emphasise the importance of interaction and communication, as well as process and production, for social and tacit understanding. The project will offer possibilities for how we might attempt to make sense of our lives, rationally and emotionally, and within the broader context around us. In presenting works that respond directly to their environment, in real time, through biochemical and alchemical reaction, the true nature of performativity in the work unfolds. In the studio, this work will embody the notion of impermanence and flux. Nothing is concrete, or sacred, from the effects of change and entropy. This project promotes cross-cultural, international synergies between participants, linking people through immediate and digital networks from across the globe & explores a unique approach to the notion of the 'gallery space' and curatorial considerations, as well as engaging innovative media installations to bring these research explorations to fruition. Master of Art, completed 2009. The establishment of art as a commodity has resulted in the value of the ‘finished’ and archived artwork. A final product that will last in a visually unchanging form. Such products are highly valued and undergo a complex 'secret life' within the underworld of galleries and collections in the pursuit of preservation. What are the elements that will not actually foster the archivability of a work, but rather, be the archival undoing, and signify the demise and degeneration of the work? What format will actually celebrate the ephemeral? The fleeting; Each tangent and facet of existence in flux? How can this be represented in a visual manner? What are the outcomes of the process of degenerating a work to revert the notion of a ‘final’ and ‘archived’ work? Other sites of interest: (exhibitions + Info): http://johncurtingallery.curtin.edu.au/multimedia/ http://www.sex.adultshop.com/display.asp?id=42
Teaching - Undergraduate
Art Visual Research 291/292, 391/392, Photography and Media Arts, 2011, School of Design and Art.
Art Studio Research- Methods + Materials 191/192, Photmedia Art, 2011, School of Design and Art.
Students please note that Rachel is on campus 2 days per week, so if you need to make contact outside of these hours, email is best.... R.Kierath@curtin.edu.au
Teaching - Administration
Short Course Coordinator, School of Design and Art (SODA).
Coordinating short course programs within the School of Design and Art, Faculty of Humanities.
Memberships
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Awards
Exhibitions:
2010 Harbouring Histories: Durban University of Technology Durban, South Africa.
2010 Staff Room, Curtin University Staff Annual Show, Moores Building, Fremantle.
2010 Boundaries, Group Show, Tangent Gallery, Curtin University,
2009 Staff Room, Curtin University Staff Annual Show, Moores Building, Fremantle.
2009 DOfA Show, Post-Graduate Exhibition, John Curtin Gallery, Curtin University.
2008 Staff Room, Curtin University Staff annual show, Moores Building, Fremantle.
2008 Fremantle Print Award, Fremantle Arts Centre.
2007 Staff Room, Curtin University Staff annual show, Moores Building, Fremantle.
2007 Fremantle Print Award, Fremantle Arts Centre.
2006 Grad Show 06, Curtin University Graduation exhibition.
2006 MatteReality 2, Moores Building, Fremantle.
2006 Nemesis: Portraiture exhibition, Perth Centre for Photography, Northbridge.
2006 Starlight Children’s Fundraising Art Auction, Government House
2005 Sex Exhibition, adultshop.com National Erotic Art Award, Breadbox Gallery, Northbridge
2005 Joondalup Invitation Art Award, Lakeside Joondalup Shopping centre, Joondalup
2005 Windows, Artrage, Streets of Northbridge
2005 Trace, Byte Gallery, Northbridge
2005 Mandjah Boodjah, Curedale Housing Collective Celebration, Moores Bldg
2005 WA Printmedia Award Exhibition, Cullity Gallery, UWA
2004 GradShow ’04 Curtin Graduation Exhibition, 2004
2004 Iris Award Exhibition, Photography Gallery of WA, 2004
2004 Iris Award Exhibition, Photography Gallery of WA, 2003
Industry Awards:
2005 Western Australian Printmedia Award, Emerging Artist Award, Printmakers Association of Western Australia, WA.
2004 Printmakers Association of WA, Graduating Student Printmaking Award.
2004 WA Portraiture Prize, Iris Award Winner (Polaroid Category), Photography Gallery of WA (Now PCP)
Commissioned work:
Commissioned Photographer for BlackRussian Productions, for Documentary: Rottnest Island: Black prison/White Playground, 2009
Commissioned Photographer for Perth International Arts Festival, 2006
Commissioned Photographer for Mandjah Boodjah Housing Collective, Exhibition, Moore’s Building Contemporary Art Gallery, 2005
Commissioned Artist, storyboard sketches for Footprints in the Sand: Documentary, Blackrussian Productions, 2005
Commissioned Photographer for Nyungar of the Beeliar: Documentary for the Noongar Land and Sea Council, 2004 (Developed through Kulbardi Productions)
Publications
Group Exhibition of Creative Works
- Kierath, R. 2010. Untitled. Australia: Curtin University.
- Kierath, R. 2010. Untitled Anthology (Shannon Lyons) (Ayla Dare) (Rachel Kierath). Australia: Curtin University, Department of Art.
