BRONWEN WILLIAMS – VOX DISSONUS

Through a hybrid experimental form made up of sonic and visual elements, Bronwen Williams’ exhibition Vox Dissonus, explores the complexities of cross-cultural living and mixed-race identity.

The show, which will open at MOP Projects this month, is described by Williams as an opportunity to examine contemporary race politics through the process of active listening.

“The title Vox Dissonus…translates to ‘voices of disagreement (dissonance)’,” she explained

“From my experience, as a Chinese-British-Australian citizen, and participating in countless race-based interactions, both subtle and explicit, I have come to understand the power of voice and speech, the agency in the identity of whoever is speaking and the importance of listening,” she said.

Her sound sculptures draw upon the use of beat frequencies – a psychoacoustic phenomenon that occurs when two frequencies (within 30Hz of each other) are played in unison. Rather than occupying a single tone, the frequencies create throbbing and jarring pulses.

“Historically in Australia, and many other Western countries, the voices of people of colour have been ignored, silenced or made to seem invalid. My work challenges the audience to listen to voices, sounds and opinions that historically would be considered ‘disagreeable’ or ‘dissonant’.”

“My practice is informed by my lived experience of my own race and my observations of how the world identifies and treats me differently to my Caucasian counterparts.”

Williams strives to destabilise the homogeneity of the voices that dominate our creative realms. Through her art, she looks to investigate the disruption of Eurocentricity in the cultural landscape of Australia.

“In my experience I have found that when race is addressed, it is very often addressed in relation to being Caucasian. This is exemplified in the exoticising of non-white cultures, the fetishisation of people of colour, and the consumption of non-western culture by Western countries,” she said.

“I want to destabilise this way of thinking because thinking that non-white people and non-western cultures are consumable commodities is what strengthens racism and it contributes to why racism still exists in Australia.”

“In my work I am exploring what would happen if I was no longer considered the ‘Other’, and if Otherness wasn’t defined as being non-white,” said Williams.

Although she believes that the way we talk about race in Australia is changing, Williams hopes that her work will encourage audiences to apply the practice of active listening in their wider social worlds.

“It is a privilege not to wonder if you are being stigmatised because of your race and how your race effects your everyday interactions,”

“I make work about this because it is important to me that the way we talk about race and address racism in Australia changes for the better.” (SH)

Aug 25–Sep 18. MOP Projects, 2/39 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale. Free. Info: mop.org.au

SHON HO