Exhibits,
Ebony Hickey Strong I Am
Opening: Wednesday 4 May, 6PM -8PM Dates: 14 April - 14 May
This work is a journey of connection and histories from Africa to Haiti, to this country. The histories that come together to create myself. Looking back, I found the events leading up to my adoption are also big world history events. As I transition myself through my experience of inter-county adoption, I can see my history in chunks, these works are like those clumps of memory and history. I focus on being in the present, here and now. Being respectful and joyful, the work is also about where I am now. These images make sense to me. These drawings in their order show forward motion, always moving forward with my Ancestor’s blood. Strong I Am.
Listen to Ebony’s generous discussion with multi-award winning artist Lisa Waup below.
Ebony Hickey is a Haitian born, Australian contemporary artist with an interest in interrogating concepts of individuality, adoption, sexuality, queerness and black identity. Ebony draws on her life experience to inform the creation of her drawings and expressive sculptural forms, employing a diverse assortment of materials to compose her work. Performance is also an important element of her creative practice. In 2000, Ebony created the drag personality Koko Mass. Koko loves to perform songs with soul and is a bit of a badass who always speaks up and is honest about issues they face in society. Koko challenges perceptions head on whilst also having fun with their audience. Ebony’s practice is bold and politically engaged, responding to issues that affect her communities with a strong visual language she continues to explore. Ebony completed her Masters of Contemporary Art at Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne in 2020.
