In her subversive work created as digital video content, Hydraulic Press Girl, 2020, Australian born, US-based artist Smac McCreanor takes inspiration from videos of viewers reacting to the content published by the popular You Tube Hydraulic Press Channel, which captures a myriad of objects being compressed by a hydraulic press. In late-2020 McCreanor began the Hydraulic Press Girl series, showing side-by-side frames of her interpretative movement and the active hydraulic press harmoniously in motion.
Sophie Prince, Curatorial Project Officer, Australian and First Nations Art, speaks with McCreanor about the union of violence and humour, irony and performance represented in her work.
About the speakers:
Smac McCreanor is a Brisbane-born performance artist, actress, dancer and choreographer based in Los Angeles. Her signature style is reputably known for its slapstick physicality, clever originality and comedic charm. With training in dance, theatre and studies in fine arts, she landed her first leading role in a major world touring stage production at 18 years old. She settled her career in the USA, performing in television, commercials and music videos, while still producing original material for her digital works and various live comedy shows in Los Angeles. Smac’s digital material has surged over 1 billion views across all platforms and growing.
Sophie Prince is Curatorial Project Officer Australian and First Nations Art at the National Gallery of Victoria.