OPHELIA BAKOWSKI was born in Melbourne/Birrarunga, Australia (1996). Their practice uses performance, image, sound and installation, to explore the inherent fluidity and inter-connectivity of Nature and identity. Through experiences of hardship and trauma, states of transcendence and enlightenment allow for a cosmic communion with the sacred and unknown self, as pain becomes pleasure. The rituals performed in their work, become a form of healing and celebration of selfhood.
Through their work, Ophelia explores the intersection of queering and spiritual praxis. Using ritual in performative gestures that reclaim religious practices, states of transcendence are invoked for a cosmic communion with the unseen and unheard. They are interested in exploring the inherent fluidity and inter-connectivity of Nature and identity through queer ecologies.
Ophelia’s work has been exhibited at Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Daine Singer, Perth Centre for Photography, Blindside and Seventh Gallery. Their work is held in private collections across Melbourne, Sydney, Berlin, London, Paris and New York City, and in the public collection at the National Library of Australia. Ophelia has been a finalist in the Moran Contemporary Photography Prize and the CLIP Award. In 2019, they worked on solo shows at Kings Artist-Run (IamOphelia 2019) and Alternating Current Art Space (Endure 2018) – discovering the nuances of queer self in practice.
“Like sympathetic magic, transcendental experiences are lived and conveyed through the ambiguity of the photograph, as encountered in the work of Bakowski. Investigating the unseen and the unheard, these works converse with identity and healing, forming communion with the sacred and the unknown self.” - Jake Treacy.
Solo Exhibitions:
2022, Sacrament at SEVENTH Gallery, Melbourne Australia.
2021, May All Acts Of Love And Pleasure Be My Rituals at Bundoora Homestead Arts Centre, Melbourne Australia.
2020, May All Acts Of Love And Pleasure Be My Rituals at FELTspace, Adelaide Australia
2020, Embrace; A River Runs Through at Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne Australia.
2019, IamOphelia at Kings Artist-Run, Melbourne Australia. (Curated by Jake Treacy)
2019, Endure at Alternating Current Art Space, Melbourne Australia.
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2022, Wyndham Art Prize, Wyndham Art Gallery, Melbourne, Australia.
2021, FLUID: Midsummer Festival, Wyndham Art Gallery, Melbourne, Australia.
2021, PHOTO 2021: Festival of Photography, Melbourne, Australia.
2020, Night Works: Melbourne Fringe Festival at The Wandering Room, Melbourne Australia.
2020, You Are Here at Town Hall Gallery, Melbourne Australia.
2019, CCP Salon Project at Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne Australia.
2019, Friends and Family at Daine Singer, Melbourne Australia.
2019-2020, The Wrong Biennial at Centre Del Carme; Orihuela; Chelva; Castello, Valencia Spain.
2019, Pearlescent Verse at Bunjil Place, Narre Warren; Harmony Square, Dandenong; Liverpool, Sydney.
2019, Pearlescent Verse at Blindside, Melbourne Australia. (Curated by Jake Treacy)
2019, Oysters and Art at Second Space Projects, Melbourne Australia.
2018, ARTBAR November at Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney Australia. (Curated by Hoda Afshar)
2018, EXPOSURE Showcase at ACU Gallery, Melbourne Australia. (Curated by Pippa Milne)
2018, In Light at Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne Australia. (Curated by Linsey Gosper & Madé Spencer-Castle)
2018, Utopian Tongues at SEVENTH Gallery, Melbourne Australia. (Curated by Jake Treacy)
2018, CLIP award finalists at Perth Cultural Centre, Perth Australia.
2018, CLIP award at Perth Centre for Photography, Perth Australia. (Curated by Daniel Boatker-Smith)
2018, NGV Melbourne Art Book Fair, Melbourne Australia.
2017, Nowhere, Now Here at Hillvale Gallery, Melbourne Australia. (Curated by Kristian Hӓggblom)
2017, Obscura Photography Festival, Penang Malaysia.
2015, Moran Contemporary Photography Prize at Juniper Hall, Sydney Australia.
Performances:
2019, Endure #2 at Seventh Gallery, Melbourne Australia.
2019, Endure (Reflection) at Alternating Current Art Space, Melbourne Australia
2018, Endure #1 at Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne Australia.
Screenings:
2021 (forthcoming), Sydney World Film Festival at Palace Central, Sydney Australia.
2019, Human Rights Arts and Film Festival at Dancehouse Studio, Melbourne Australia.
Awards:
2022, Finalist in the Wyndham Art Prize
2018, Finalist in EXPOSURE Showcase - Emerging Talent in Contemporary Photography.
2018, Shortlisted in the Moran Contemporary Photography Prize.
2018, Finalist in the CLIP award, Perth Centre for Photography.
2015, Finalist in the Moran Contemporary Photography Prize.
Collections:
2019, UN-, Asia Pacific Photobook Archive, Melbourne Australia.
2018, Manières D'être, The National Library of Australia, Canberra Australia.
Artist Publications:
2017, Manières D'être.
Residencies:
2020, Power/Play at soft space ARI, Melbourne Australia.
Artist Talks:
2019, Three Belly Buttons Podcast, Melbourne Australia.
2018, In Light Artist Talk at Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne Australia.
2018, Speaking in Utopian Tongues at Seventh Gallery, Melbourne Australia.
Online / Print Magazine:
2018, Manières D'être published in Odiseo Publication Issue #12, Barcelona Spain.
2018, Manières D'être published in PHOTO/FOTO Magazine, Melbourne Australia.
2017, Untitled published in Paradise Magazine Issue #2: Los Angeles, California.
Education:
2018, Bachelor of Photography (Fine Art), Photography Studies College, Melbourne Australia.
2015, Visual Arts Diploma, Sophia Mundi, Melbourne Australia.
Workshops:
2017, Obscura Festival workshop with Wawi Navarroza, Penang Malaysia.
Volunteering:
2018-2019, Seventh Gallery, Melbourne Australia.
2015-2019, Centre for Contemporary Photography, MelbourneAustralia.
2019, Alternating Current Art Space, Melbourne Australia.
2018-2019, NGV Melbourne Art Book Fair, Melbourne Australia.
2017, Gertrude Street Projection Festival, Melbourne Australia.
2017, Obscura Festival, Penang Malaysia.
2015-2017, ART + CLIMATE = CHANGE, Melbourne Australia.