Bhenji Ra

Bhenji Ra is a performance and interdisciplinary artist currently based on the stolen land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, Sydney. Her practice combines dance, choreography, moving image, installation and club events.

Her work is often concerned with the dissection of cultural theory, colonial perspectives and identity, positioning her community’s personal histories at the centre of her work. With an emphasis on collaboration, her work plays with the multiplicities of spectacle, while daring you to imagine alternative models of community. 

She is currently occupied with being the ‘Mother’ of the Western Sydney vogue house Slé, whose work consists of hosting events and Balls for the intersections of community and performance. She recently curated Sissy Ball at Enmore Theatre, presented by the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardis Gras and Red Bull Music. 

Bhenji Ra’s recent group exhibitions include You Are Here (2020) at Town Hall Gallery, Hawthorn Arts Centre, Club Ate: In Muva We Trust (2020) at the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 52 Artists 52 Actions (2019) at Artspace, Sydney, and Rogue Agents (2019) at Auto Italia South East, London. In 2018, Bhenji was the commissioned artist for the Keir Choreographic Award 2018.

Video production by Dominic Kirkwood 2020

Image: Bhenji Ra, 53rd Action performance for the 52 ARTISTS 52 ACTIONS Symposium, 21 July, 2019, Artspace, Sydney; (background) Pio Abad, Archive of Action No. 1–10, 2019, installation view, 52 ARTISTS 52 ACTIONS, Artspace, Sydney, courtesy the artist. Photo by Anna Kucera.