Sleepless Nights is a monthly event of showcases, artists talks and divination practices. For our January event, we invite artist Melanie Friedman to present her body of work, ‘Art is Predictive’. Friedman’s first solo exhibition with House Conspiracy, ‘Art is Predictive’ brings together art, prompts-based performances and Tarot readings.
Melanie Friedman is an Australian based Canadian writer, performance artist and medical student. Using poetry and performance she explores embodiment practices as a means of building resilience. Melanie invites the audience to formulate questions that she will engage with through the old practice and symbolism of Tarot.
Donations welcome. Profits are to support House Conspiracy and emerging artists.
The pieces put forth in this exhibition are a reflection of the daily struggle of living in lockdown. These reflections are amplified by the fact that the artist was separated from her family and living in a country where she had no government support. Despite the hardships experienced by the artist at this time, the consistent support from Crisia of House Conspiracy made it possible to develop a body of work through an online residency. These pieces included poems, plans for performances, and performative videos. Each one of these pieces can be built upon and expanded.
They were created lovingly and with whatever energy the artist had at the time of their creation. The artist may have spent the day grocery shopping, coming home to sanitise and wipe down all of their foodstuffs before putting them away or perhaps she was doom scrolling way too much and her anxiety is recorded in one of her pieces. Each piece acts as a direct lens into the mind of the artist and provides a voice for all of the small moments that blended together during the strangeness of the coronavirus.
The artist has been interested in the intersection between magical practices, psychology, and philosophy for quite some time. She has spent the past three years cultivating a tarot practice that focuses on intuitive storytelling while infusing her narratives with psychological theory. The artist recognises that she cannot explain all the intricacies of the world, but believes the tarot is more accurately used as a tool for reflection rather than a divinatory device. Through combining these ideologies, she asks that the participant bring forth a question that they feel needs a little bit more clarity. Could this question relate to a relationship, goal, or recurring dream? The participant may also choose to bring in something they feel they need to let go. This may be an idea or object symbolizing something the participant would like to release into the past. These questions can be used to look directly into the heart of where the participant has been and where they feel they need to move. Through the imagery of the tarot, the artist invites the participant to engage with these questions and potentially allow some light into the dark spaces of their mind.
House Conspiracy acknowledges the Turrbal and Yugara people, the First Nations custodians of the lands where House Conspiracy now stands, and that sovereignty has never been ceded. We pay respect to their Elders, lores, customs and creation spirits, recognising that these lands have always been places of teaching, creativity and learning. We acknowledge the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people play within our community.
