Zane Saunders
Sunday, 06 June 2010 21:09
Zane Saunders was born in Cairns in 1971, and grew up in Kuranda, Far North Queensland, Australia. He identifies with the Butchulla (Bajala) of Fraser Island, some 1500km to the south.
Attendance at art school at Cairns TAFE was encouraged by his mother; Zane has a Gungu Yimithir language name given by a Hopevale elder. The name Ngamu Mangal Bungal - means clever hands.
Although Zane has found it challenging to survive as an artist, he has works in the collections of the Australian National Gallery, Queensland Art Gallery, National Gallery of Victoria and a host of state, corporate and private collections.
Coming from a very strong visual arts background, Zane continues exploring and investigating new visual expression. While continuing his broad traditional visual arts output, in painting and printmaking, Zane has courageously explored diverse and challenging mediums of installation, sculpture, media and contemporary performance.
This relatively recent performance work has provided a unique medium to take his prolific visual practice 'off the wall', and into the peoples space. Over the past three years, Zane has developed a very deep and unique approach to contemporary dance/performance, drawing from his indigenous cultural heritage, and from the many experiences of contemporary society.
Importantly, this new work is placed in many diverse settings and contexts, each work site specific, and both visually stunning and challenging, for audiences.
"Performance is a vehicle for the spirit to connect to audience": modern devices/costume are utilized to convey the message; site specific work devised to site location; use of formal and informal spaces, emphasis on the absurdity of contemporary 'western' norms.
Zane also has an ongoing colloboration with sound and media artist File_Error, and this partnership allows Zane to explore video, media and performance in a more defined context.
Zane's visual arts work is in many collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Gallery of Victoria.
Recent performance practice is numerous across festivals such as On Edge in Cairns, to exhibition openings and community events such as NAIDOC week in his hometown, Kuranda, while his most recent performances include short works at Submerge in Cairns. Zane is working towards a 3 month arts residency in New York in September, and a research trip to family country in central Queensland.
Zane will be performing at Submerge#d as part of the On Edge: in collaboration witjh Arahmaiani and also solo.
Performing at: Submerge#d
- Sat 10th July
- Old Hrvatski Klub Artspace, 240 Scott St
- Doors 6.00pm, Show 7.00pm
- Check web for full program/times.
- Tickets: $10/ 7 at the door.
- Sat 17th July
- Old Hrvatski Klub Artspace, 240 Scott St
- Doors 7.00pm, Show from 8.00pm
- Check web for full program/times.
- Tickets: $7/5 at the door.