Yhonnie Scarce was born in Woomera, South Australia, and belongs to the Kokatha and Nukunu peoples. Her interdisciplinary practice explores the political nature and aesthetic qualities of glass and photography and references the on-going effects of colonisation on Aboriginal people. Family history is central to Scarce's work, drawing on the strength of her ancestors, she offers herself as a conduit, sharing their significant stories from the past.
One of Scarce's earliest works, Family Portrait, 2008 speaks to the introduction of alcohol to her ancestors, whilst In the dead house, 2020 explores the dark history of one of South Australia's early coroners. The survey features some of Scarce's most significant works spanning 15 years, some never seen before in Melbourne, and offers audiences an opportunity to see how her practice addresses the legacies of colonisation on her people including genocide, racism, environmental degradation and intergenerational trauma.
"Glass shows no mercy. To make objects that involve using your breath is physically empowering; to build large scale forms from something that is delicate. I see glass as a very powerful medium to express ideas and represent stories." - Yhonnie Scarce
Press release courtesy THIS IS NO FANTASY.
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