Patricia Piccinini

"We Are Family"

Fresh from her success as Australian representative at this year's Venice Biennale, Patricia Piccinini, will bring her "We Are Family" exhibition direct from Venice to the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo as part of Ancient Future - Australian Arts Festival Japan 2003.

With a bold body of work behind her, Piccinini is considered one of Australia's most exciting artists with a growing international reputation. She has exhibited widely overseas and in Australia including solo exhibitions at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, the Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in Melbourne. She has also participated in the Berlin and Gwang'ju Biennales, the Biennales of Sydney and Liverpool, and the opening exhibition for the Taipei Museum of Contemporary Art.

"We Are Family", brings a fresh, personal perspective to some of the most difficult bio-ethical issues of our time. Her work explores the changing relationship between what is considered natural and what is artificial, what is  "normal"  and "mutant". Her works embody our dreams of perfect children and disease-free life, yet always articulate the value of difference and uncertainty. The "family" portraits are created using a variety of media including videos and sculpture.

"I can honestly say that I love my family of works, I find them beautiful rather than grotesque, miraculous rather than freakish:  but I do fear for them in the world that I see as both extraordinary and problematic". (Patricia Piccinini)

The artist and curator of the exhibition are scheduled to appear in several events during the show.

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Media Inquiries: Australian Embassy Public Diplomacy Section
Miko Kurosawa Tel: 03-5232-4176 or Keiko Shinohara Tel: 03-5232-4106