Artist Interview: Shirley Wu

Steph catches up with artist Shirley Wu, who is known for her glass sculptures containing coloured oils. They chat about how her work is informed by previous training in aromatherapy and bodywork, and ultimately underpinned by mindfulness. Shirley is currently an artist-in-residence at Nexus Arts and gives us some insight into her upcoming exhibition Find that Pace as part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival 2023. 

 

Show Notes

• Interview Transcript (PDF)
• Nexus Arts
• bodywork (noun): therapiesand techniques in complementary medicine that involve touching or manipulating the body.
• aromatherapy (noun): the use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils for healing and cosmetic purposes.
• Shirley Wu, Holistic Therapy 3, 2019, Blown glass filled with essential oil, cork. 30cm x 20cm x 15cm
• City Rural Emerging Artist Award: a SALA Award sponsored by City Rural Insurance. See past winners.
• Peter Minson
• FELTspace – Artist-Run-Initiative / Gallery in Adelaide
• Ursula Halpin
• Canberra Glassworks
• Chinese calligraphy [wikipedia]
• joss house (noun): a Chinese temple
• Kuan Ti Temple [sa.gov.au]
• Architecture Museum – UniSA
• Out of Site, curated by Melinda Rankin at the Lounge Gallery (SASA Gallery) in 2006, featuring Stephanie Radok, Annalise Rees and Qi Zhang. [PDF]
• Find that Pace as part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival
• ShirleyWuJianzhen.com
• @ShirleyWu.Jewellery

 

Shirley would like to acknowledge Bridget Currie and Jingwei Bu, her mentors for her current project; Dr Christine Garnaut and Dr Julie Collins from the Architecture Museum at UniSA; and Dr Eleen Deprez who is writing the essay for Find that Pace.

Main image by Juan Van Staden courtesy of the artist and the University of South Australia