CULTURE EXCHANGE - Artistic Protest and Rightful Sovereignty (PAOLA BALLA)

Guest artist PAOLA BALLA

joins Jillian Knipe for this special edition of ART FICTIONS | Culture Exchange which is part of the UK/Australia Season, a partnership between the British Council and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Paola and I discuss colonisation in a place widely known as Australia, and its corresponding cost to herself, her family and her extensively long ancestral lineage, via poet Ellen van Neerven's 'Comfort Food' published in 2016.

We dive into Ellen's magically rich text as she describes the simplest of dishes alongside racist cruelty. All with the upper hand of calm reflection and a delicious dollop of sensuality.

Paola is extremely generous in sharing her stories of Indigenous hardship which she relays with clarity, humour and warmth . Our conversation expands on Paola's art practice which includes sculptural installation, curation and academia. We hear of the nature of bush dying and the shocking reality of forced encampment of her people, which continued into recent history. Paola shares her take on the mythological Mok Mok with her wild hair and no underwear, as she serves up well meaning treats in track pants and stilettos. 

PAOLA BALLA

paolaballa.art

instagram paola_balla

EXHIBITIONS 

'Treaty' 2021

'Wilam Biik' 2021

WORKS

'Banner Time' 2021

'Murrup (Ghost) Weaving in Rosie Kuka Lar (Grandmother's Camp)' 2021

'Unconditional Love Space' 2020

BOOKS & WRITERS

Ellen van Neerven 'Comfort Food' 

ARTISTS

Vernon Ah Kee

Madeleine Kelly 'Spectra of Birds' 2014-2015