NAVA: in conversation

Esther speaks with Tess Maunder ahead of the launch of her new publication, Absolute Humidity. Absolute Humidity is a volume that aims to re-position conversations about the climate, weather and the environment by placing artist’s voices at the centre of the discussion. The publication focuses on contemporary artists from the Asia-Pacific region, including twenty-eight new conversations and other contributions that form a new constellation of inquiries. Through this project, contributors discuss how ideas surrounding weather, the environment and the climate be conceptualised by artists producing fresh ideas surrounding artistic agency. Tess Maunder is a writer, curator. editor and researcher based in Brisbane.

In Cairns for the annual Indigenous Art Fair, Esther speaks with Artistic Director Janina Harding about this year's program. Curator and artist Bianca Beetson discusses her recent exhibition at NERAM gallery, and her son Aidan Finn about his study of contemporary Australian Indigenous art at Griffith University. Finally, Esther speaks to artist Laliana Tusa and her mother about their work featured at the fair. For more information about the CIAF program, head to the website: https://ciaf.com.au/

Soda_Jerk​ sits down with Esther Anatolitis in the NAVA office to talk about their most recent and controversial work, 'Terror Nullius, a political revenge fable in three acts'. The artists discuss their approach to making work as a seizing and hacking of culture as an act of political resistance and solidarity. Formed in Sydney in 2002, Soda_Jerk is a two-person art collective who work at the intersection of documentary and speculative fiction.

In the window of the Australia Council building in Sydney, Esther Anatolitis is in conversation with Gosia Wlodarczak, during her drawing residency. They discuss Gosia's approach to drawing as looking and focus, what that means, and how she built her art practice in Poland and Australia over the years.

Artist Abdul-Rahman Abdullah in conversation with Esther Anatolitis about his most recent work in 'Enough خلاص Khalas' exhibition at UNSW Galleries, and the development of his practice as a professional artist in Australia.

For this episode, artist Chris Fox is in conversation with Esther Anatolitis and Penelope Benton around public art, and his most recent public artwork at Wynyard Station, 'Interloop'. The conversation discusses the value and role of art in the public space, and the challenges inherent in public art policy and delivery - through competing stakeholders and agendas. This episode unpacks the challenges facing contemporary artists working in public space, and makes suggestions for change. Check out Chris Fox's work via his website: http://chrisfox.com.au/

For this episode, Esther Anatolitis is in conversation with artist Sarah Goffman. Sarah describes her work as an obsession and compulsion, and her role as 'trash converter' as she reframes plastics and everyday consumer products and packaging into beautiful objects through the critical lens of waste and excess consumption. For more information about Sarah's work, and upcoming shows, head to her website: http://www.sarahgoffman.com/

Esther Anatolitis in conversation with Elvis Richardson, the curator of 2018 Adelaide Biennial. They discuss the exhibition, artists and the arts in South Australia.

For this episode, Esther Anatolitis is in conversation with artist and activist, Elvis Richardson. Founder of the Countess Report, Elvis has been exposing gender inequity in the arts since the blog launched in 2008, and subsequent 'counts' of gender imbalance in gallery and museum representation, media and opportunities. Elvis lives and works in Melbourne, and has an upcoming show at Kyneton Contemporary Art Triennial, and a new website for The Countess Report.

'the five fundamental elements of the universe is sitting in reciprocal relationship, so no one is stronger than the other, that one either kill or killed by others, and that's the how the whole universe keep changing and keeping that good balance with everything' Mami Kataoka. For this episode, Esther Anatolitis is in conversation with Mami Kataoka, the Artistic Director of Superposition, the 21st Biennale of Sydney. Esther and Mami discuss superposition and thermo-dynamic equilibrium, a concept drawn from quantum physics, and how it is applied to contemporary art systems and artists and the direction of this years Biennale. 21st Biennale of Sydney runs 16 March - 11 June 2018 in various locations around Sydney. More information via www.biennaleofsydney.art

For this episode we are at MAAS, the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences speaking about the upcoming Sydney Design Festival. Running from the 2nd to the 11th of March the festival hosts over 100 exhibitions, events, workshops and talks, both in the museum and through the public program partners in and around Sydney, including industry, universities and studios. The theme for this year's festival is 'call to action', and the events focus around the role and responsibility of design in our world and the potential for design to solve complex global problems. International keynote speakers alongside local makers contribute to the dialogue of what design can offer our contemporary society. We speak to the producer of the festival about the curatorial approach, the key events and why the event is important in challenging, provoking and inspiring creative practitioners in Australia. Information, ticketing and news about the festival can be found on the website: sydneydesignfestival.com.au

For this episode we are speaking with Dr. Pippa Dickson. Pippa is the chair of Design Tasmania and an advocate for design, art and creativity in Australia. We speak to Pippa about the changing climate of design in Tasmania and Australia, and some of the key issues facing the sector in 2018. We discuss multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary creative practice, and her recommendations for developing design, design policy and creativity in Australia.

For this episode we are at Girrawaa Arts Centre at Bathurst Correctional Facility. The arts centre is an initiative for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inmates to connect with culture, develop their art practice and sell their work. We speak with centre manager Bryan Reiri about the role and value of art in corrective services and one of the current participants about his experience in the program.

'If we want change, we gotta make it ... we need to participate', Richard Bell. For this episode, artist and activist Richard Bell is in conversation with Esther Anatolitis about politics, social change, the role of art and the responsibility of artists. Richard is involved in the current Artspace instagram project, #52artists52actions, featuring an artist a week throughout 2018, each tackling an urgent political issue.

​For this episode we speak with Susie Rugg, the Kids & Families Coordinator at the Museum of Contemporary art about the major summer exhibition, Pipilotti Rist: Sip my Ocean. Pipilotti's work is immersive, engaging and accessible and has been particularly successful in attracting and engaging children and families. The museum hosted a children's only preview opening, and is running 'Sundays with Pipilotti' an interactive space for children and families in the learning centre. We discuss the increasing role and importance of these family friendly exhibitions to the MCA and to museums and galleries throughout Australia. For more information about the exhibition and the family programs, visit the Museum of Contemporary Art website.