Image courtesy of the Artist
Contemporary artist Minaal Lawn (b.1977 Australia, based Dja Dja Wurrung Glenlyon) explores cultural identity and belonging through her practice. As an Australian born woman of Indian descent, she navigates the intersections between her inherited culture and the cultural landscape in which she lives.
She articulates her sense of place through an undeniable sensibility of textiles, colour and form from her fashion design background. Weaving references to Hindu temple architecture, idol worship, object symbolism and cultural phenomena - she captures the nuance of her unique positioning.
Her process is characterized by transparency and honesty. She deliberately exposes the layers of her predominantly ceramic practice, utilizing techniques such as stacking, balancing, offset against a visual language of ceramic surfaces and textiles to symbolize the delicate equilibrium of her Indian heritage and Australian upbringing.
Through her art, Minaal invites us to contemplate the beauty that emerges from embracing the discomfort of cultural ambiguity.
Minaal has held solo shows at Stockroom (Kyneton 2023), Art Gallery of Ballarat (2022), Castlemaine Art Museum (2021), Craft Victoria (2020), Craft Contemporary (Castlemaine, 2020), ArtBox (Merricks, 2019) among others. Her work has been curated into group shows for Craft Victoria (2023), NGV Melbourne Design Week (Flack Studio presentation Open Table 2023, 2021), CLAD Gallery (Bendigo, 2020) and Daine Singer (Fitzroy, 2019) among others.
Her works have been finalists in Footscray Art Prize (2023), Muswellbrook Art Prize (2022) Clunes Ceramic Awards (2019), The Du Rietz Art Awards (2019), The Wyndham Art Prize (2019), Saint Cloche Gallery (Little Things Art Prize 2018).
In addition to her exhibition practice, she has worked commercially, collaborating with interior design studios, Danielle Brustman (2023), creative director Marsha Golemac (2021), commissioned by Jardan (2022), fashion brands Radical Yes (2019, 2018) Nelson Made (2018). Works are available to purchase through exhibition and via Jardan, Mr Kitly, Stockroom Kyneton, Craft and Fletcher Arts