Lara Chamas | Assimilation | Vegemite, burqua openers, tin, goon bag, jars | 2015
Based on the 4 main types of Islamic veil, these (non or poorly functioning) bottle openers subvert the female body, and religion into a vessel to open things, specifically to open a haram substance such as beer. These easily held tools ‘open’ up potentially forbidden substances, alluding to issues such as terrorism and gender inequality, practised under the name of something else.
Lara Chamas is a first-generation Lebanese non-indigenous Australian artist, based in Melbourne. Her practise investigates sub topics of postcolonial and migrant narratives, specifically within the context of her cultural identity. Her practise explores this in relation to contemporary Australian and global society, and current political issues. Currently a completing her Masters by research in Fine Art at Monash University, through the use of narrative and experience documentation, storytelling, oral history / orally transmitted information, and historical texts; her research intends to explore links between narrative theory, cultural practice, current politics, the body as a sculptural, oral and political vessel. Included in this is personal experience and family history, to relate to contemporary issues in Australian society surrounding bi-culturality and assimilation.
https://www.instagram.com/lara_chamas_artist
