Image: Beatrice Rubio-Gabriel, SELF (destruction) Performance MADA Now 2019 Performance externalises the idea of a constantly shifting place of re-presentation, defying the idea of identity as a fixed state of being, as an answer, or a single destination. Here, the act of writing becomes painting, as identity is performed through the constant repetition of drawing my own name over and over, almost at the insistence of the indeterminacy of my own existence.

2020 is shaping up to be an action-packed year for recent Fine Art graduate Beatrice Rubio-Gabriel. The curator, writer and contemporary artist will soon start a curatorial internship with MUMA Gallery (Monash University Museum of Art), a prize awarded to her and two fellow fine art students at the 2019 MADA Now graduate exhibition, followed by a trip to Budapest to complete a curatorial residency.

“This year is full of opportunities and I'm looking forward to expanding my art practice, to give it a global context”.

The artistic life Beatrice is embarking on could have turned out differently. She initially enrolled at university in art history and science before "falling into fine art by chance.”

I did one studio elective in fine art and that experience changed the way I thought about and approached art.

Admittedly I fell into fine art by chance, but I stayed because of how expansive Monash University’s approach to contemporary art is.

To have the opportunity to try as many things as you can, and to be able to use different fields to inform what you do is amazing. I feel it's the best way to develop a well-rounded art practice.

How did you end up studying Fine Art at Monash?

I chose Monash University because of its double-degree options. I wanted greater flexibility and to graduate with a broad skill-set, which was appealing to me. I enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science double degree.

I did one studio unit in Fine Art, and it really changed the way I approached writing about Art History, so I decided to continue that degree. I loved how my art practise is informed by my curatorial one.

Although I admittedly fell into Fine Art by chance, I stayed because of how expansive Monash’s approach to contemporary art is. Brian Martin is a great resource on Indigenous Art practices, not to mention the specialised facilities for glass making made for some really great studio projects.

Monash is really interdisciplinary, more than most other art schools in Victoria, from what I gather, and that’s something that I really enjoyed and appreciated. I feel like the best way to have a rounded practice is to have the opportunity to try as many things as you can, and to be able to use different fields to inform what you do.

What was your favourite part of studying Fine Art?

My favourite part of studying Fine Art, and ironically the hardest, was the year of the graduate show.  I could see how far I had come, and it was where my practice matured the most and that was really gratifying. What made this a great experience for me was my tutors. I had some of the best tutors. I had Megan Cope and Emily Floyd predominantly in studio during third year, along with Spiros Panigirakis, and they were all really instrumental in pushing my writing and performance practice forward.

During my final year of my Art History and Theory, I took on two curating units where I had Rosemary Forde, who was limitlessly patient with my sometimes overly ambitious ideas. I wouldn’t be where I am right now without them, and I’m eternally grateful for that.

What's next for you, travel, career?

For this year, as a winner of the Bachelor of Art History and Curating and MUMA award, I will be working as a curatorial intern at MUMA for two projects, and in April, I have a curatorial residency in Budapest, which is really exciting! I’m looking forward to continuing to expand my curatorial practice as it intertwines with my artistic one.

I see my career heading in so many different ways (there are a few research fellowships that I have my eye on, and I would love to continue curating independent shows, and I’d like to do my masters down the track), but I think at the moment I’m at a point where I want to work as far into everything as possible and to just continue to grow my skills and expand my methodologies. So I think for the next two years or so, I’m going to focus on undertaking residencies and working internationally, so that I can bring what I do locally into a global context.