Booth I06
MARS Gallery will present new bodies of work by artists Atong Atem, Daniel Agdag and Emil Cañita at Sydney Contemporary 2024.
Interrogating the ethnological history of portraiture, Atong Atem’s intimately staged works question the dynamics of identity in Australia. Her postcolonial practice captures the identities, cultures and movements of the African diaspora, creating a visual language that references 20th century contemporary African photography. MARS will present Atem’s large-scale textile works that mark an exciting venture for the artist in pushing the boundaries of her practice and medium.
Atem has exhibited her work across Australia, including National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Portrait Gallery, Immigration Museum, Gertrude Contemporary, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art and Internationally at Tate Modern, Photo London 2023, Photo Ireland, Photo Basel 2022, Red Hook Labs in New York and Vogue Fashion Fair in Milan.
Atem will speak more about her textile practice as part of the Talk Contemporary panel, Weave and Weft: Art and Fashion, from 1:30-2:30pm on Thursday 5 September at Carriageworks.
MARS will also present new work by Daniel Agdag at Sydney Contemporary 2024. Agdag’s unique practice is directly and indirectly absorbed by systems and the interactive nature from which they derive their functions and purpose. The work collectively is made by hand into subtle and alluringly delicate forms which carry within hidden narratives, motifs and a unique language which not only drive the ideas but form its aesthetic. His work has been described as ‘architectural in form, whimsical in nature and inconceivably intricate’.
Agdag has exhibited solo shows in Melbourne, New York and London and have been presented at several local and international art fairs including Melbourne Art Fair, Sydney Contemporary, Art Central Hong Kong, VOLTA Basel and Art Fair Tokyo. His work is held in private collections in the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and Europe.
Emil Cañita will make their debut at Sydney Contemporary with MARS this September! Cañita (he/she/they) is a trans Filipino artist, boldly navigating the intersection of art, identity, and personal expression. Known for their evocative videos, captivating storytelling, and intimate Polaroid captures, Emil fearlessly explores the complexity of human connection, love, and desire.
By sharing these intimate narratives, Emil confronts societal taboos, dismantles stereotypes, and encourages viewers to question their own perceptions of identity and desire.
