ON WHOSE SHOULDERS I STAND
Exhibition by Susie Raz
WHEN | 23 OCTOBER TO 17 NOVEMBER
WHERE | LONG GALLERY
OPENING EVENT | 26 OCTOBER 2 - 4 PM
ARTIST TALK | 9 NOVEMBER 11AM - 1 PM feat. Tracey Lamb, Emmy Mavroidis, Nicole Kemp, Mimmalisa Trifilò & Susie Raz
The under-representation of female artists in the art history books, art galleries and the auction houses of the world is the motivation behind the creation of this series of self-portraits. Each self-portrait is a homage to a female Australian artist of the 20th century who persisted to paint despite the lack of recognition and support of the male-dominated art world. When reading any history book, we need to ask ourselves:
Who is telling the story?
Which stories are being left untold?
As the art history books on display demonstrate, men have dominated not only the practice of art but also the telling of its history. Based on the statistics shown, this is still happening in many respects. Patriarchy has taken one story – that of the male white artist – and made it representative of the whole when in fact there are multiple stories all happening simultaneously.
Feminist art historians have been unearthing the lost stories of unknown women artists for over 50 years and this series of works therefore forms part of the feminist revision of art history. However, it is worth remembering that the story of the women is only one of many marginalised groups, and it serves to highlight the need to wake up to the distortions of the white male-dominated art history narrative.
Celebrating the achievements of forgotten Australian women artists, this exhibition joins a number of corrective exhibitions that seek to provide an alternative perspective of Australian art. It seeks to elevate the status of these women to that of great artists, a role historically reserved for men.
Finally, these paintings seek to change beliefs that are deeply rooted in our psyches by recognising the immense pool of female talent and its contribution to the story of art in Australia.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Susie Raz is a self-taught artist. For a number of years she painted in a beautiful stable repurposed as a studio in Kangaroo Ground. In this quiet location her art practice began to thrive. This is her second solo exhibition at Montsalvat, and the second time she has been the recipient of the Arts & Culture Grant through the Nillumbik Shire Council.
Susie continues to circumnavigate the demands of paid work and family commitments while practicing as an artist. Susie also created and teaches an art course titled ‘Exploring Your Inner Artist’, which enables participants to bypass their inner critic and connect with their innate creativity.
Recent achievements:
• One of 6 featured artists for Nillumbik Council’s 2020 International Women’s Day celebrations.
• Recipient of 2020-21 Arts & Culture Grant through the Nillumbik Shire Council for her 2022 exhibition at Montsalvat, For the one whose voice was silenced.
• The work titled ‘How do we comfort those who have lost everything’ was purchased by the Nillumbik Shire Council for their Civic Art Collection.
• Finalist in The Perceval Portrait Prize 2020 (Yarramunua)
• Finalist in The Gosford Art Prize 2020 (Homage to Nora)
• Finalist in The Gosford Art Prize 2021 (Homage to Hilda)
• Finalist in the National Capital Art Prize Canberra 2021 (Will I Return Home)
• Finalist in The Gosford Art Prize 2023 (Homage to Thea)
• Recipient of 2023-24 Arts & Culture Grant through the Nillumbik Shire Council for her 2024 exhibition at Montsalvat, On whose shoulders I stand.