Each year ATW hosts at least one international artist and works hard on the hosting. It is important for ATW to develop international relationships that can continue to challenge the creative team with new ideas and ensure that ATW stays visible on the world stage.

With support from the Hancock Fellowship and the Irene Davies grant, international visiting artist in residence, Abishek Ganesh Jayashree, a.k.a Kaimurai, was with us for the month of June 2024. Kaimurai collaborated with ATW’s weavers and dyers and presented an exhibition of recent work at the ATW gallery with support from ATW curator Adriane Hayward. He travelled to Sydney and Brisbane with ATW Director, Sophie Travers to present his work at partner organisations, visit curators and galleries and create connections.

Kaimurai was selected as the annual international AIR through open call. Kaimurai is represented by Blueprint.12 gallery in Delhi. He is based in Bengalaru (Bangalore), Southern India. His work was exhibited in 2023 at Melbourne Museum in the Sutr Santati exhibition, which continues to tour internationally. Kaimurai holds a deep respect for the materials in his work, khadi cotton and indigo pigment. His work is rich in cultural significance and his relationship to wider Indian arts and textile practice offers insights to Australian artists and curators.

Whilst his time in Melbourne was not as long as some of ATW residencies, Kaimurai was keen to engage with the medium of tapestry. Saffron Gordon and Pamela Joyce wove a cotton and a wool tapestry for Kaimurai to adapt with his indigo pigments. The subsequent folded works were greatly admired in the gallery exhibition, with Kaimurai writing and speaking about their response to place and in particular First Nations people’s respect for Elders. Kaimurai identified a related respect in his local culture in Southern India. The opening event for the exhibition was well attended with many first-time visitors from the Indian diaspora or connected to Melbourne Museum.

In addition to hosting Kaimurai in Melbourne with visits to galleries and exhibitions and meetings with artists and curators, ATW partnered with UNSW Art and Design in Sydney and artisan Queensland in Brisbane. In each city, Kaimurai gave a slide show and video presentation followed by an in conversation with Travers, and in Sydney also with Emma Peters, UNSW Associate Director Innovation. In Brisbane Kaimurai performed a brief excerpt of the Carnatic music involved in his creative process. In Sydney there was a tour of UNSW’s Textile studios and in QLD, of the artisan gallery exhibition, followed by dinner with Director, Carmel Haugh and Program Director Simone Linssen. In each city Travers and Kaimurai visited galleries and met with curators and artists. Australian Design Centre and AGNSW in Sydney, and GOMA and QUT Galleries in Brisbane were highlights.

In Melbourne there were three special events. Kaimurai gave a gallery tour and presentation to ATW Friends and associates. A collaboration with Indian/Australian artist, Arundita Jayasharee involved leading Asian Australian artists Sangeeta Sandrasegar, Ema Shin and Phuong Chi Lai and First Nations artist Joshua Serle amongst others, in an afternoon of chai and conversation. The Hancock lecture at the conclusion of the project attracted curators, artists and experts and was supported by Padmini Sebastian, (Director Engagement and Partnerships) of Melbourne University.

ATW is grateful to Kaimurai for his engagement and beautiful work and to the many partners who made this significant project possible. We hope you managed to see the work in the gallery which is on till Friday 16th August 2024.