Midsumma and NGV come together to explore the 2023 NGV Triennial through the voices and perspectives of members of Melbourne’s queer community.
Hear personal reflections on a selection of Triennial artists from creative practitioners, providing insights into works on display from diverse perspectives.
Ellen Cisneros responds to Carolyn Lazard
Ellen Cisneros is a curator and multidisciplinary artist of Australian and Filipino heritage who works with painting, sculpture and video. Their practice explores themes of gender, sexuality and identity. Ellen’s work often involves the LGBTQIA+ community and advocates for mental health awareness. Their work has been exhibited in Subvert Social at Vacant Assembly (2022), Queer My Head at The Dax Centre (2022) and Talking Heals at Melt Festival, The Powerhouse (2019). Ellen was a featured artist for the National Suicide Prevention Trial campaign in 2019.
Matto Lucas responds to Elmgreen and Dragset
Matto Lucas (he/him, queer) is an Australian artist, photographer, and educator working in mixed and digital media, particularly photography, video and performance on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and the Bunurong land. In 2013 Lucas was awarded a Lifetime Membership to Midsumma Festival for his continuous work and commitment as a visual artist within the LGBTQI community. Lucas’ arts practice oscillates between documentation archival photography of queer spaces, bodies and moments and installation work exploring systems of power, authority and identity. Lucas has been shortlisted for awards such as the Metro Gallery Art Award in 2011 and AGENDO13 Young Emerging Artists Prize in 2013. Lucas was awarded first place in the 2019 Picturing Footscray Photography Prize (and 2nd prize in 2023 Picturing Footscray) and the ‘Best Fashion Photograph’ at the Centre for Contemporary Photography ILFORD Salon in 2021. Exhibition highlights include Pride Centre (2022) and The Substation (2022.) Currently lecturing in Visual Media & Design at the Australian Institute of Music Melbourne, Lucas is also the founder of the Melbourne Art Review website and previously co-hosted the ‘Drinking With The Artist’ Podcast.
2Joocee responds to Thebe Magugu
2Joocee does it all. From singing to dancing, Hosting and more. Originally from Broome (Rubibi) in WA this small town Faboriginal has big city dreams and now lives and works on the beautiful lands of the Kulin Nation. As a First Nations plus size Queer 2Joocee believes that visibility is always very important, even if you are likely to hear them before you see them. 2Joocee has hosted and performed with some of the biggest festivals in Australia including Midsumma, Yirramboi, Melbourne Fringe and even Sydney World Pride 2023. They have also walked in Melbourne Fashion Week as part of the Ganbu Marra Runway for the last two years and was the 2023 recipient of the Victorian NAIDOC Pride Award. With all of this under their belt they have no plans of slowing down anytime soon and will be gracing a stage near you before you know it.
Presented in partnership with Midsumma Festival.
