Artist’s Statement
'Outback Tracks' is a work that evolved from an artist residency in Barcaldine in 2018. I spent time exploring the region, documenting the landscape, flora, fauna and patterns in the area. One pattern I continued to encounter was the man-made tyre tracks imprinted into the long dirt roads between small towns and properties. These ephemeral marks that map people's journeys across the Outback have been captured and preserved in hand-cut paper.
Biography
Elysha Rei (b.1986) is a Japanese-Australian artist based in Brisbane, whose work is influenced by her cultural heritage. Her practice includes paper cutting, public art and large-scale murals. Since completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2008, Rei has exhibited work, undertaken artist residencies, curated exhibitions and managed cultural spaces across Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Netherlands, Thailand and the US.
Influences
Japanese arts and culture, ancestors Samurai Katagiri Katsumoto and Tea Master Katagiri Sekishu
Awards
Asialink Arts Creative Exchange 2018
Exhibitions
Selected Solo Exhibitions:
2019 Nanakorobi Yaoki, Craft Vitrine Gallery, Melbourne VIC
2018 Nanakorobi Yaoki, No. 12 Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2018 Nanakorobi Yaoki, Studio Kura, Fukuoka, Japan
2017 Crafted Contemplations, Museum of Brisbane, QLD
2017 Onespace Onsite: REI + WERNER, joint exhibition with Benjamin Werner, Onespace Gallery, QLD
2016 The King’s Confidant, Ivory Street Gallery, Artisan, Brisbane QLD
2015 Drawing out the best in me, Use Space, Bangkok, Thailand
2013 Internal Reflections, Northern Centre for Contemporary Art, Darwin NT
2013 Repetition Suspicion, Gympie Regional Gallery
2012 Past Portraiture: an exploration of ancestral affiliation, Crows Nest Regional Art Gallery, QLD
2012 Perverse Patterns, Dogwood Crossing, Miles QLD
2012 Construction of Life: a marriage of land and water, Branch 3D, Sydney
2011 Destruction Creation, made. Creative Space Toowoomba
2008 Cutting It Fine, joint exhibition with Jordan Hart, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery
Selected Group Shows:
2019 Brisbane Street Art Festival 2019, wall painting at Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane
2019 BEMAC Illuminate Here and There, curated by Liam Herne, Queensland Multicultural Centre
2018 Unframed, Coolart Gallery, Sunshine Coast, QLD
2018 A Tropical State, Seawalls Festival, Cairns QLD
2018 Compact Prints, Umbrella Studios, Townsville, QLD
2016 The Ambience Store Project #5, The Ambience Store, Brisbane QLD
2016 Aware, Graydon Gallery, Brisbane QLD
2013 Women in the arts 2013, Canopy Artspace Cairns
2013 Entry, Brunswick Arts Space, Melbourne
2012 Deck the Walls, Bleeding Heart Gallery, Brisbane
2012 Imagine You Know, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery
2012 Having a great time, wish you were here, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba
2011 Size Matters II, the SWICH Contemporary Art Space, Ipswich
2011 Hearts of Gold (7), Bleeding Heart Gallery, Brisbane
2011 The Sketchbook Project, Brooklyn, NY
2010 Belle Arti – Chapman and Bailey Award, Metro Arts, Brisbane
2007 Graduart 07, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery
2007 Exchange Exhibition, Massey University, New Zealand
2007 Exchange exhibition, James Cook University, Townsville
2007 Kitsch and Kaboodle, Juggler's Art Space, Brisbane
Public Art
2018 Westin Hotel Restaurant Wall installation, 111 Mary Street, Brisbane QLD
2017 William Jolly Bridge Projection, Brisbane Open House, Brisbane City Council, QLD
2017 Cathedral Place Water Feature, Ann Street, Brisbane City Council, QLD
2017 First Coat International Art Festival Mural, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, QLD
2017 Culture Wall, Grand Central Toowoomba, Commissioned by QIC
2016 A Daughter’s Gift, Traffic Signal Box - St Paul’s Terrace, Urban Smart Projects, Brisbane QLD
2016 Vibrant Laneways installation, King George Square Car park, Brisbane City Council
2016 Weaving Our Heritage, Eagle Lane, BrisAsia Festival 2016, curated by Engage Arts
2015 UnFramed, Coolum Public Art Project, Coolum, Sunshine Coast QLD
2013 Real People Real Stories, Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
2013 Animals with Attitude Koala Sculpture Trail 'Katagiri Koala', Gold Coast
2010 Artist's Dozen, Installation at King George Square, Brisbane
Website
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