Tessa is a Melbourne based artist interested in the exploration and practice of a variety of different mediums paying particular attention to film, animation, and digital painting. Their work is a study in issues surrounding the complexity of gender within humanity and gender's relationship with societal norms, practices, and expectations, as well as their own experiences with gender identity, body dysphoria, and their acceptance of their physical self.
Performative Gender
Colours distort, falling off the figure, transforming into new shapes and beings. The form you saw before now somebody else. They move and change to the beat of silence, the past trailing behind them attempting to keep hold. The figure flips, following their old path no longer moving forward. Confused. Alone. Lost. Who are they? The space is full, the space is empty, leaving no time to decide what or who they are for yourself. Colours fill the room. It’s so bright. You watch yourself watch them, blinded by who they think they are. The colours cease. Void. Darkness. Why are you here? Who have you decided to see? Why can’t they decide for themselves? Who are they? What are you?
Installation view 1
Installation view 2
Installation view 3
Installation view 4
Installation view 5
Tessa Louise, Performative Gender
Tessa Louise, Installation view 1
Tessa Louise, Installation view 2
Tessa Louise, Installation view 3
Tessa Louise, Installation view 4
Tessa Louise, Installation view 5
In the spirit of reconciliation Monash University acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
