Emily WAKELING

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Emily WAKELING

Participating Project	Curator Residency Program
Activity Base	Ballarat (Australia)
City / Place stayed	Tokyo
Period	2025.6 - 2025.7

Purpose of the residency

The research will address the rising awareness of gender, and the important but often unacknowledged role of groups and collaborations in the artistic methods and outputs of contemporary artists. I would like to meet with artists whose artworks and studio environment are shaped by informal mentorships, friendships, and even supportive romantic partners. The research will also focus on artists who work in named groups, or share studios and art-making equipment with other artists.
The research will open up discussion and opportunities for English-language published article/s, cross-cultural collaborations, and inspire exhibition proposal/s for Australian or Japanese art institutions.

Plan during the residency

• meetings and studio visits with artists
• gallery meetings, exhibition visits
• visits to art schools
• presentations and discussions with fellow international residents

Activities during the residency

My research focused on learning from artists and creative people who strengthen their practices through collaborative and collective relationships. Inspired by my observation of an increasing number of Japanese artists credited as working in groups and or other collaborative relationships, the purpose of the research was to

1) confirm my observation and
2) collect anecdotal reasons for artists to choose to make art in this manner, especially through a gender and LGBTQIA+ lens.

I met with many artists, whose artworks and studio environments are shaped by informal mentorships, friendships, and even supportive romantic partners. I also attended exhibitions, collective art events and witnessed collaborative artmaking methods. In addition to learning, I also provided professional guidance to a young Tokyo curator. Another unexpected element of my residency experience was the cross-cultural moments of sharing knowledge and experience of the contemporary Australian art scene in an international context.  

Outcome of the residency

The research has opened up opportunities for English-language published article/s, and possible cross-cultural academic and curatorial collaborations. I can also take my experience back to my role in an Australian art museum, ready to apply my up-to-date international art knowledge to exhibition proposal/s as the opportunities arise.  

Creator Information