close to the wind
December 16 2023 – June 30 2024 Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia.
close to the wind is a new body of work that celebrates Lisa Waup’s sustained exploration of printmaking. Investigating new inks and printing techniques, she has revealed an intuitive process that eloquently illustrates her life’s journey of discovery and connection. Her practice is concerned with the hidden histories of Australia, often referencing the ongoing impacts of colonization and the layers of colonial intervention that continue to impact First Peoples and the environment.
A significant element in Waup’s practice is the First Nation’s concept of Country. This extends to the spiritual and cultural aspects of the land, encompassing the sky and waterways and our individual responsibilities to the native plants and wildlife. The natural environment is a grounding element in her work, in which she encourages a narrative of respect, engagement, and activism.
For Waup, motherhood, family, and Country are connected because the act of making allows her to unite histories of dispossession with the strength and resilience of First Nations families, including her own. Incorporating found and historical materials, she addresses the hidden histories First Peoples have held alone. Weaving in objects that may have otherwise been discarded, she gives them a voice.
close to the wind is a personal exploration of her life experiences and in many ways her works could be defined as self-reflection. Though her stories are not always unique, they are her own. By creating this work, Waup shares with her audience the importance of deep listening, being present, and advocating for family and Country.
— Hannah Presley, Guest Curator
“ Connections to the land and sea deliver me to a place of belonging and peace. It surrounds me, it nurtures me. It delivers me calm. It inspires me to do what I do as an artist. I can hear the old ones calling me.”
— Lisa Waup
Co Curator: Hannah Presley
Sponsors: close to the wind is supported by Creative Australia and the Vice Provost for the Arts.
Fabrication Assisatnce: Spacecraft
Lisa Waup spent a month-long residency at the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia, Match 8 - April 7 2024. Waup delivered programs involving students, visiting curators and artists, and local residents.
