Fe/Mail

Fe/Mail

Betty Muffler, Nellie Ngampa Coulthard and Pearl Austin

March 2022

curated by

Samantha Houben

Fe/mail displays artworks by First Nations women with anonymous letters to the artist to foster an intimate and thought-provoking environment. Open letters address barriers by sharing uncertainties that unravel common threads of hesitation often felt when viewing art. They seek to reveal that notions of women's experiences such as self-doubt are often not our own but a product of our patriarchal, colonised society.

As a form of fan-mail, letters physically travel across Australia’s unique rich red landscape, Fe is the periodic symbol for Iron, the strongest, most resilient metal, fundamental for survival. Fe/mail uses the letters to consider both womankind and the foundations of the earth. In this sense, it can be explored how works by First Nations artists are far more than the abstract paint on the surface, they hold invaluable histories, knowledge and are powerful representations of our world.

Sam is a First Nations Māori woman and emerging curator interested in exploring the female psyche. She holds a Master in Digital Media, BAS majoring in Art History and is completing her Master of Art Curating at Sydney University. With experience working in private galleries, Sam is dedicated to promoting an engaging environment fuelled by art for all to enjoy.

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE ARTWORKS-

BETTY MUFFLER

Ngangkari Ngura (Healing Country), 2016

91 x 122 cm (framed), acrylic on canvas

Artwork courtesy of a private collection

Image copyright Betty Muffler at Iwantja Arts

About the artist, Iwantja Arts: https://www.iwantjaarts.com.au/artists/betty-muffler

NELLIE NGAMPA COULTHARD

Tjuntala Ngurangka (Country with Acacia Wattle), 2020

152 x 122 cm Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Artwork courtesy of a private collection

Image copyright Nellie Ngampa Coulthard Iwantja Arts