Rosanna Raymond draws on the cultural stereotype and décor of exclusive institutions in her 'SaVAge K'lub' project. Gentlemen's clubs that is.
The 2010-ongoing installation space is activated by various K'lub members over the course of the exhibition. The project's title refers to a historical gentlemen's club first established in London in the 19th Century – Savage Club. Rosanna re-imagines historical artworks and images alongside newly created works and performances.
The gendered, elitist aspect of the club is entirely removed, as indicated by Raymond's reworking of the title. The 'VA' in 'SaVAge' refers to a Samoan philosophical understanding of space as active, not as empty and passive, but activated by people, relationships and reciprocal obligations.
The installation is animated by Pacific artists and local communities who have created new artworks, spoken word and performance artworks. These events re-invigorate the objects on display beyond the confines of a museum exhibit, allowing them to participate in the life of the community.
Participants in the project include: Margaret Aull, Jess Holly Bates, Eric Bridgeman, Salvador Brown, Emine Burke, Precious Clark, Croc Coulter, Lisa Fa'alafi, Charlotte Graham, Mark James Hamilton, Katrina Igglesden, Jimmy Kouratoras, Numangatini MacKenzie, Ani O'Neill, Maryann Talia Pau, Tahiarii Pariente, Aroha Rawson, Rosanna Raymond, Reina and Molana Sutton, David Siliga Setoga, Grace Taylor, Niwhai Tupaea, Suzanne and Rameka Tamaki and Jo Walsh.What did you expect from a gentlemen's club prior to going?
I had done enough research to know what to expect. There are a few clandestine images online, I had trawled through the internet looking for any history and that helped me build up a picture of what the Savage Club was about.
How did you perception change once you visited Savage Club in Melbourne?
It just perpetuated what I had researched but was lovely to meet and be greeted by the president who gave us a wonderful tour of the building.
What reactions have you received from Savage Club members to your project?
They haven't remarked or responded to the project at all.
You've been quoted saying the inside of Melbourne's Savage Club is filled with “wall-to-wall ooga-booga” – what is 'SaVAge K'lub' filled with?Hehehe the same really. But I know who has made it, not just who it belonged to. With the exception of the works loaned from the museum, which will now be imbued with some new stories and connections. As the APT8’s 'SaVAge K'lub' room is not permanent all the artworks and treasures will be returned to their loved ones, so they are still circulating through the community, whether it be in someone's home, in a gallery or in an artist’s studio.
Why did you combine a gentlemen's club with a Samoan philosophy?
Because it is what I know, what I relate to. It is what I can offer to the re-imagining of the savage. It is part of my Samoan genealogy. A place where I can privilege the Samoan indigenous index, but also a space where I can bring all my blood lines together and celebrate them all, with other likeminded souls.
The project has manifested in various guises since 2010, but will appear in full at APT8; can we expect the bits and pieces to culminate plus some? What else do you have in store?
The 'SaVAge K'lub' is a relational space. It changes depending on the project, APT8 allowed me to realise a physical space for the K'lub Room. I certainly hope it keeps developing and moving and a grooving. Who knows where it will end, hopefully one day we will have a permanent K'lub Room. I hope to travel the world and create many different versions, as one of the core elements of the 'SaVAge K'lub' is to share knowledge and skills to help to encourage the development of arts and culture, through the collaborative process.
What elements have evolved in the past 5 years?
The 'SaVAge K’lub' is always developing and evolving. It is an open space. People and collaborating are at the heart so it really depends on who and what resources are at hand.
Will it continue to evolve after APT8?
Oh yes! The 'SaVAge K'lub' has developed its own momentum. I just hope I can keep up!
Your club isn't exclusive, it's open to all genders, nationalities and interests; who do you hope to target and what do you hope they take home? The K'lub seems to gather people as it needs them. Some I have asked, some I have no choice, some will come - it is an organic process. It is not yet a formal thing. I don't have the resources to manage that, but maybe one day I hope to.
Hopefully people take away with them a sense of fun, of life lived, of the past living with the present, of love and artful creativity that is enabled when you are given the space to share and come together.
At APT8 you've also developed a project for APT8 Kids, what are you doing for it?
Developing the idea for the APT8 Kids was hard for me as most workshops I am present and engaging with the kids, so I had to think about what would be fun and keep the integrity of the cultural aspect. I am aware of how much is taught on screens today so I really wanted to encourage them to use their hands, play with colours and design so I based the project on Tapa cloth as I have been inspired by this special cloth and have used it in the 'SaVAge K’lub' room. Tapa cloth has many uses and when it is displayed you usually see it flat but it is also worn on the body so I thought it would be fun for them to create a tiputa. A poncho-type garment and rub the designs on which is a traditional technique using a carved rubbing board, a great way to use traditional techniques and use them in the present.
'SaVAge K'lub' exhibits The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial Of Contemporary Art (APT8) exhibits Gallery Of Modern Art | Queensland Art Gallery until 10 April.
