NARETHA WILLIAMS

 

INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTIST & CREATIVE PRODUCER: ILBIJERRI THEATRE COMPANY

 

Naretha Williams is an interdisciplinary artist, born and based in Melbourne with Wiradjuri, English, Irish and Chinese bloodlines. 

 

Naretha’s art practice is a combination of movement, sound, music, moving image, writing, installation, performance and photography, currently with a primary focus on music & audio arts.

 

Naretha creates work that explores, questions, provokes and dismantles ideas around identity, culture, esoteric knowledge and contemporary shamanics. Consistently challenging assumptions on authenticity, her work often takes place in the grey areas and lines are deliberately blurred. As an interdisciplinary artist, process is fundamental to the work itself and the alchemy of Art is a continual point of investigation.

 

An experienced performer, production tech and artistic creator, Naretha has worked on a vast range of projects, events and festivals including circus, theatre, dance, puppetry, film, television, installation and music. She has toured nationally and internationally for both Indigenous and non-indigenous productions. In 2008 Naretha won the Uncle Bob Maza VIPA Award for my Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Indigenous Theatre and in 2009 won the Indigenous Fringe Artist of the Year award for the installation work Earth Fire Rain Wind.

 

Naretha won a major prize in the 2011 Victorian Indigenous Arts Awards, the work 'Shifter' now a part of the Koorie Heritage Trust's permanent collection.  This was later exhibited in Sydney 2013 at the International Symposium on Electronic Art.

 

Naretha continues to experiment and her work is always evolving.  Much of her art is process driven and experiential, constantly exploring new methodologies and hybrid frameworks.  Performance is often a key element and self as the subject features extensively throughout her visual works.  Even in sound works and compositions, there is a physicality and relative attunement which informs much of her creative decision making.