At PICA we recognise that we are situated within the unceded lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation. We pay our respects and offer our gratitude to Elders past and present, and to those emerging leaders in the community. We acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the importance of their care and continued connection to culture, community and Country.

Always was, always will be.

Galleries are open today, 10am–5pm. Our exhibitions are always free.

Emma Buswell

Perth-Taipei Artist-in-Residence Exchange

Perth-Taipei Artist-in-Residence Exchange

During her residency at Treasure Hill Artist Village, Taipei, Emma Buswell will delve into the complex histories of labour and class politics, focusing on the industrial boom of the 1960s that significantly improved the quality of life for everyday citizens. Using a vintage 1960s knitting machine, she will craft a new body of work that intertwines the act of making with the politics of protest. 

About the artist

Emma Buswell is a Boorloo (Perth)–based artist, curator and designer fascinated with systems of government, economies and culture, particularly in relation to constructs of place, identity and community. Her current work takes its inspiration from the matrilineal handcraft and knitting techniques passed down from her grandmother and mother, as well as a contemplative investigation into the nature of kitsch, ephemera and national identities. Buswell has run a variety of artist-run spaces across Perth and Fremantle and exhibited and curated exhibitions across Australia. Buswell was a resident at Fondazione Antonio Ratti, Como, Italy in 2011 and participated in the 2015 Australia Council for the Arts Venice Biennale professional development program. In 2020, Buswell’s work was the focus of a solo exhibition at the Art Gallery of Western Australia and in 2021 she was an exhibiting artist as part of Perth Festival and Love in Bright Landscapes curated by Annika Kristensen at Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts. She was the 2022 TILT artist at Goolugatup Heathcote. Most recently, Emma’s work ‘Suburban Turrets’ was nominated as a finalist for the Art Gallery of South Australia’s 2023 Ramsay Prize. Emma is represented by sweet pea gallery, Perth. 

Supporters

PICA’s International Studio Exchange Program is supported by PICA’s Art Ambassadors and Treasure Hill Artist Village, Taipei.