Olga Cironis

September 18 2016 , by Penelope Benton

Czech/Greek Australian artist, Olga Cironis examines notions of belonging, cultural globalisation, appropriated histories and accepted attitudes on belonging in the Australian cultural and social landscape.

Within her work are layers of research, collected stories, muted voices and cultural heritage. Olga’s work is psychologically loaded with meaning, provoking and seducing the viewer, navigating them through history and inviting them to question our social and environmental connections. By engaging viewers to become part of her work, Olga questions the meaning of public and private space, gender and social norms that permeate our accepted actions.

Currently based in East Fremantle, Olga holds a Diploma of Education from Edith Cowan University, WA. Her Masters and Bachelors of Visual Arts are from the University of Sydney (SCA). She is represented in numerous prominent collections nationally & internationally including University of Thessaly Volos, Greece, Thessaloniki Art Collection Greece, Art Gallery of Western Australia WA, BankWest Art Collection WA, Janet Holmes a Court Art Collection WA, Bunbury Regional Art Gallery WA, King Edward Memorial Hospital Art Collection WA, Fremantle Art Collection WA, Shire of Mundaring Art Collection WA, Sir Claude Hotchkin Royal Perth Hospital Collection WA, City of Melville Art Collection WA, Bunbury Art Collection WA, John Stringer Art Collection WA, Geraldton Art Gallery Collection WA, Turner Galleries Art Angels Acquisition WA, Brigitte Braun Artplace Art Collection Victoria, Central Institute of Technology WA, The Horn Art Collection WA, Royal Perth Hospital Art Collection WA, Fremantle Hospital Art Collection WA, Princess Margaret Hospital Art Collection WA, St John of God Murdoch Hospital Art Collection, Fiona Stanley Hospital Public Art WA, Housing Foundation Percent for Art Public Art, Northbridge WA, Ministry for Culture and the Arts and other private collections.

Earlier this year, Olga was awarded the The Western Australian Sculptor Scholarship for her ongoing performance project Mountain of Words. Upcoming exhibitions include Dead Centre, curated by Anna Louise Richardson and Abdul-Rahman Abdullah, Edith Cowan University’s Spectrum Project Space 24 September - 1 October, Sappers & Shrapnel: Contemporary Art and the Art of the Trenches, curated by Lisa Slade, Art Gallery of South Australia 11 November 2016 - 29 January 2017, followed by exhibitions in Kalgoorlie December 2016, and Albury January 2017.

In this video, Olga chats to NAVA about her interest in identity, feminism, social constructs, and the way art can communicate without restriction.

Photo: Peter Cheng