In her forthcoming Gallery 9 show, apart of Sydney’s Art Month, Juz Kitson hopes to transition away from smaller works into what she describes as a more refined installation piece.
‘For a show like this, I really want to challenge the notion of people entering a completely different world that plays with the senses. There will be a sound installation as well as the light installation, but still working with animal pelts and furs – just in a different way and pushing the potential of the material as much as possible.
‘I’m going to be producing an entire environment so, as you enter the space, there’s a large hanging installation suspended from the ceiling which will be only illuminated within the porcelain,’ she said.
Tentatively titled Outside the symbolic order, ​this will be Kitson’s first time exhibiting at the Darlinghurst gallery, known for their keen support of emerging and establishing artists ‘Obviously being a commercial space, Will Durak has invited me to show again and work on this project. It will be a one-off, it’s quite experimental.’
Kitson completed the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) in 2009 at the National Art School (NAS) and said the program essentially created the freedom to experiment and push the limits of her art. ‘I pushed into a different realm in that I was using different mediums. Since graduating, I have had such a strong support network within the department.
‘I was exposed quite early on to the professional aspects of pursing my career. At art school, I really pushed myself to exhibit as much as I could nationally and internationally.’
A professional studio focus is what makes NAS one of the most prestigious and engaged platforms for establishing artists in the country. ‘It’s the technician aspect of learning, and really learning about building upon craft. That was the most important thing, said Kitson.
‘It was also the balance of conceptualising the work, and theorising and talking about it. But that didn’t seem so important. It was the skills that we learnt through drawing, lectures and really focusing on different aspects of each field. That was incredibly important. It just gave everybody an insight.’
Kitson is also pleased about her nomination for The John Fries award next month. ‘I’ll be showing a large wall-mounted installation that cascades onto the floor which is the main element from Changing Skin, exhibited as part of Primavera 13.’
Applications to the National Art School are currently invited for a range of full-time programs in 2015.
For more information register for Open Day on Saturday, 30 August or visit the National Art School website.
