Artist: Gustav Hellberg Work: Tracing Australia (2017-18) Partner: Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council (RRAC) Location: Ravensthorpe, Western Australia
Gustav Hellberg's new work Tracing Australia is influenced by his time in the Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun region, hosted by the Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council (RRAC).
Tracing Australia is a new film work exploring the absence of knowledge and the unspoken histories of the Ravensthorpe region, its nature, and also the people who have been active in this land.
About the artist: The foundation of Gustav Hellberg’s artistic practice lies in the public sphere, where he aims for interaction between people, artwork and public space. The interventions he seeks play on memories and perceptions of a certain setting, creating a visual and poetic argument that draws attention to seemingly insignificant situations of the urban backdrop of everyday life. Many of Hellberg’s projects stem from an interest in direct confrontation with public space, and with objects and phenomena constituting that space. The artworks, which Hellberg places in public spaces, could be seen as attempts to establish new and different forms of communication.
Hellberg has exhibited widely in an international context, with notable exhibitions at Raid Projects in Los Angeles, Madrid Abierto, Dunkers Kulturhus in Helsingborg, Malmö Konstmuseum, and EMAF in Osnabrück. During 2014 Hellberg has in exhibited in They Are Here Now, Kunsthaus Interlaken; thingWorld: International Triennial of New Media Art;, National Art Musuem of China in Beijing; and Burlaks in Samara samt Dresden Public Art. In 2015 Hellberg presented solo exhibitions at Kunst und Kultur am Rosa- Luxemburg-Platz, Berlin, and Kunst Kraftwerk, Leipzig.
About our partner: The Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council (RRAC) is a not-for-profit volunteer-based organisation that provides a diverse and adventurous arts program of events through the Ravensthorpe region.
Ravensthorpe is a town 541km south-east of Perth, nestled in the Ravensthorpe Range near the centre of a large shire, which includes the town of Hopetoun, the Fitzgerald River National Park and the Frank Hann National Park. Ravensthope is surrounded by a dramatic coastline, pristine natural bush land, historical mining sites and farmlands.
