POST CULTURE SHOCK FEELS
On Saturday, 25 January, Culture Shock hosted their launch party. Uneased by the muggy dampness of light rain at 6.10pm, my friend and I gathered ourselves upstairs above the Lord Gladstone venue, where we found refuge in the warm embrace of local artists and designers. For creatives not so local to the heart of the city, visiting a ‘white cube’ gallery space such as Goodspace is often times intimidating, reaching for a breath of fresh air among the elites and established artists with the credentials to prove their artistry. But sprinkle the white cube with creatives of colour, and you’ve got yourself a different story.
The all-asian cast of artists at the launch felt profoundly affirming, both as an art student and artist of colour. Jana Ortanez from UNSW, reveals her collection of portraits featuring Western Sydney locals, printed onto cotton textile squares. Ash Mountford’s work also decorate the white gallery walls with stories, community and culture, through his photoset opposite to Jana’s work. Aptly titled Halo-Halo, his large-scaled photography depicting the barong worn by both men and women, reflects the liminality of living as both Filipino and Australian and the precarious balance of living that double identity.
The remaining gallery space features a part-sculptural, part-time based body of work by one Natalie Tso, a deeply corporeal meditation on the Hong Kong protests of yesteryear. Carefully crafted clay hands haunt the gallery with a performance video work depicting the gradual loss of her Hong Kong identity. Sharing the space Natalie are two fashion designers - Vassqo, who specialises in bespoke shirts and jackets through his collaging of textiles and screenprints and Daft Collective with a bright eye for streetwear through spray paints and experimental graphics.
Supplied (Image: Luke Fitzsimmons (@fluke.tjf)
The second-half of the night was the true heart of the night - the music. Opening was Solly on the decks, beaming up Lord Gladstone with lights and colour. Yvngcweed takes the stage minutes later, hosting the night’s music in a pair of orange trackies that costumes them as a missing Brockhampton member. They introduced each performance of the night, beginning with two powerful female singers, Ms Thandi and Jasmine Khan, both bringing out their hip-hop bravado to the stage with their sultry R&B beats and lyricism. Following their captivating performances were the rap duo INQ., spitting out bars with incredible, electrifying stage presence to match as the crowd croons some of their most notable lines - ‘all day, all night, I’ve been workin’.’
Supplied (Image: Luke Fitzsimmons (@fluke.tjf)
Due to my shuteye, I did not last through the whole night - yet one can only imagine the energy beating through the streets of Chippendale at 3am in the morning. Leaving the venue, I was left with the lingering spirit of Gibrillah’s voice, blending in with a crowd heavy with thrill and excitement. If there was anything Culture Shock succeeded in that night, it was not just through the showcase of art, music and fashion. It was all in the heart of Jazel Jozic’s vision. She managed to resurrect the communal spirit of Western Sydney into the city, a place where Westies can otherwise feel disillusioned, often lost and displaced.
Here’s to Jazel and the future of Culture Shock - may you continue to spotlight and make room for creatives of colour.
Supplied (Image: Luke Fitzsimmons (@fluke.tjf)
