Talia Smith

Summary

Talia Smith is an artist and curator of Cook Island, Samoan and NZ European heritage. Her visual arts practice predominantly uses photography, moving image and installation to explore concepts of time, memory, familial histories and identity. Through her practice and research she looks to the concept of the vā and posit that this 'place' is where those from Moana heritage can explore their identities outside of Western constructs of time and place.

Creative Process

The Fale-ship residency was a chance to create a new series of photographs that expand on a major body of work created in 2022 titled ‘Faded Glory,’ which was exhibited at MAMA Albury.

In this work, I created a series of black and white still-life photographs featuring elements of kitsch or stereotypical ‘Pacific Island’ objects that I have collected over the years.

In particular, there was a large focus on shells, from real shells found on beaches to jewelry boxes or containers created in the shape of a shell. Once the photographs were printed, I then applied washes of paint over the images by soaking, dipping, and using brushes to conceal and reveal parts of the image beneath.

Both processes refer to the European traditions of still-life photography and coloring, but with myself as the creator, the original intentions of these traditions are subverted.

Creative Workspace

I create my work in my spare bedroom in my apartment in Sydney, I am lucky to live in a 2-bedroom place alone so am able to set up my still life photo shoots in the spare room. I also paint in this room and create my moving image works on the computer. The spare room is full of books, general life items, works rolled up or in boxes and empty suitcases. My work is predominantly made in the small moments after my full time job or on the weekends.

Final Work

SHE SELLS SEA SHELLS

For me the shell is a stereotypical object associated with ‘Pacific-ness’ and features heavily within popular culture and also sits upon the windowsills of many houses.

They are beautiful objects with no two shells being the same and symbolise things like fertility or longevity or strength.

They are both original and corny.

They have been turned into many things from ashtrays to lights to paperweights, their cultural significance feels forced or put upon.

I wanted to explore this dichotomy in a new series of photographs to question the strange commodification of culture and its objects and the idea of cultural authenticity.

If culture becomes a packaged object far removed from its original source then does it make us ‘less’ than?

Am I ‘allowed’ to love the kitsch-ness of shell art but also still critique such practices?

And at the heart of this – who really is the judge?

Fale-ship Questionnaire

What inspires you?

I am inspired by my family and the stories we share and in particular my Cook Island grandmother who I did not get to know before she passed. Her short and hard life has inspired me to place importance upon the small histories and stories that are often overlooked and to highlight that just because some history is not written in books does not make it any less important.