EDITOR’S NOTE
Cover artist Tina Stefanou is leading an undercurrent of artistic actions that are changing lives and the perception of place. Wherever Stefanou chooses to engage, the transformative experience is felt deeply beyond the created works. Stefanou may favour audio and visual media, yet it is the context and the subject that directs her decisions. This artist seeks a relationship with all living things. The ancients and the moderns are deeply intertwined. Nikos Papastergiadis’ excellent essay on Stefanou examines the multidimensional qualities of this extraordinary artist.
“It ain’t where you’re from, it’s where you’re at,” is a line from American Hip Hop artist, Rakim. This line speaks to an important moment in February when artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino were announced as Australia’s representatives at the 2026 Venice Biennale. The announcement was staged at the Parramatta Artists Studios in Granville, a place of great importance to Sabsabi and Dagostino. For first-generation Lebanese refugee, Sabsabi, and second-generation Italian migrant, Dagostino, this announcement is a big moment: for them, their families, their work, and for the arts communities of Western Sydney. Both men, who have collaborated for many years, continue to be an influential presence in the region’s arts development. Reflecting on their past works, I know that their presentation in Venice will both challenge and engage.
In this issue Sheridan Palmer’s essay examines Jock Clutterbuck’s unwavering sculptural expressions to the mystical energies of nature. Brad Buckley writes about four Sydney exhibitions held over summer, and discusses the positive curatorial turns from our public institutions. Sophia Cai reviews Cats & Dogs at the Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia, and considers whether local citizens should be paying to view work held by their public gallery. Andrew Simpson’s profile essay on Ildikó Kovács surveys forty years of painting, and in Rhonda Davis’ inspiring essay we celebrate Stuart Purves’ leadership of Australian Galleries across six decades.
In January we farewelled artist Laurens Tan. He died peacefully with his family by his side in Las Vegas, US. Lisa Havilah’s intimate tribute to Laurens in this issue, tells of many encounters that will resonate with those who knew him. We also said goodbye to Leon Paroissien AM last November. Leon was the inaugural director of the Visual Arts Board of Australia Council for the Arts (now Creative Australia). For more than fifty years Leon worked strategically to expand international opportunities for Australian visual artists.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Artist Profile.
Kon Gouriotis
Editor
Artist Profile acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional owners of the land on which we work.
CONTENTS
ISSUE
Issue: The Woke Paradox by Brad Buckley
COVER FEATURE
Tina Stefanou by Nikos Papastergiadis
PROFILES
Anna Johnson by Susie Burge
Nick Mount by Julianne Pierce
Jenny Orchard by Lucy Stranger
Eldred Wisdom by Warren Feeney
Joe Wilson & Chanelle Collier by Emma Finneran
Ildiko Kovacs by Andrew Simpson
Jock Clutterbuck by Sheridan Palmer
Lauren Brincat by Zoe Theodore
Marikit Santiago by Anne Gérard-Austin
INSIGHT
Poem: Sequela by Lindsay Tuggle
Process: Tina Havelock Stevens
Poster: Sonny and Biddy
Essay: Kirtika Kain by Nithya Nagarajan
Essay: Simone Arnol and Bernard Singleton by Claire G. Coleman
Essay: Stuart Purves by Rhonda Davis
Tribute: Laurens Tan by Lisa Havilah
Review: 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art by Wes Hill
Review: A darker, clearer sky by H.R. Hyatt-Johnston
Review: The 4th Bangkok Art Biennale: Nurture Gaia by Jack Howard
Review: Hold the world to its word & Michael Butler: love by Ann-maree Ellis
Review: Cats & Dogs by Sophia Cai
Review: Shape Shifters by Una Rey
Review: Julie Mehretu by Lillian Cameron
Film: Welcome to Babel by Inga Walton
Book: Slow Reveal: The Nude in Australian Art by Christopher Allen
Preview: Joseph McGlennon by Alex Wisser
Preview: Jo Darvall by Solomiya Sywak
Discovery: Bronte Cormican-Jones by Benjamin Clay
Short Story: Art Irritates Life by Nola Farman
