The CUSP is an immersive, embodied audio visual art exhibition at the Moonah Arts Centre from 17 October to 8 November, and is part of an ongoing, innovative, practice-led inquiry by Merri Randell, a Queer intersectional Glenorchy artist who has exhibited around Tasmania, the mainland and internationally.
CUSP is a more-than-human encounter that explores how humans can tune:in and re:direct current toxic heteronormative patriarchal beliefs which condemn our species and ecosystem to collapse – towards a polyphonic, multi-species, multi-sensory, symbiotic reality that speaks to a Queer indigenous socio-ecological framework known as the tune:in journey, where diverse perspectives create resilient systems which celebrate nature.
At the CUSP, “polyphonic” is defined as multiple voices or sounds within a complex improvised musical arrangement. “Symbiosis” is a mutually beneficial relationship between multiple species or entities. According to science, polyphonic symbiosis is the foundation of a healthy ecology. Inside the CUSP exhibition, sound, movement, nature and improvised voices interact in a mutually beneficial relationship, often involving complex interweaving of “dialogues”, dance and play as signal exchanges or threads of flow. At the CUSP, the warp and weft of these individual threads interlace through polyphonic symbiosis to create a new sustainable Queer fabric of reality, where we all survive and flourish. At the CUSP, through being our unique authentic selves and mutualism we become part of something beyond ourselves.
The CUSP project began through co-creating a permaculture garden with a Queer non-binary triple koru design behind a house in Moonah built in 1908. Digging in the soil was a symbolic act of engaging with Place to undertake an experiment in Belonging. I found rusty colonial remnants and tuned:in to a diverse, generous ecosystem. This journey in my backyard became a metaphor for passing through the Earth as a descent within, to the underworld, to reclaim parts of myself I had been forced to separate from because of colonisation and homophobic religious intolerance. During this process I was mentored by Polynesian artists who helped me find my Soul note which allowed me to listen, to tune:in, to realise my Mana and finally appreciate my worth through Knowing who I am. With this Knowing and resonance, I photographed Glenorchy’s Myrtle Forest to create the CUSP audio visual art exhibition.
I’m not sure why everything I grew in my garden was purple, but I was rewarded with abundance and it was fun to share my magic spuds, beetroots, cabbages and broccoli with my friends and colleagues, to see the yummy colourful dishes they created, to journey with them.
The CUSP exhibition continues the polyphonic symbiosis journey which began with the Hobart VoiceLab: Queer+Allies in 2022 to offer a soundscape workshop on 18 October. Join us to weave a joyous new Queer conscious ecology. Let’s make our dreams reality.
This project was made possible by the Australian Governments Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia.
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