Biennale of Sydney

LEARNING | NIRIN AT HOME: Mohamed Bourouissa

Mohamed Bourouissa, Brutal Family Roots, 2020

GO TO THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITY WITH RECYCLED MATERIALS

Mohamed Bourouissa Learning Resource

Mohamed Bourouissa

Born 1978 in Blida, Algeria
Lives and works in Paris, France

Mohamed Bourouissa’s meditative yellow sound installation reflects on his childhood memories of the Acacia tree, commonly referred to in Australia as the ‘wattle’ tree. Known for its golden-yellow flowers, this plant is for the artist a romantic link to his childhood in Algeria. After learning of its proliferation within Australia, Bourouissa was inspired to connect directly to the bushlands in greater Sydney through an artist residency at the Bundanon Trust. Observing the colonial migrations of plant species globally, Bourouissa identified the early movements of the Acacia from Australia to Algeria through natural-history expeditions. Forming connection between the dispersion and adaptation of plants like the Acacia and the passages of language, Bourouissa has developed a complex algorithmic system that translates the unspoken language of the Acacia tree in order to share its story. Bourouissa collaborated with MC Kronic (a Waddi Waddi man of the Yuin Nation and local hip-hop/rap artist, activist and poet), Nardean (an Egyptian-Australian MC, poet, singer and songwriter) and French sound designer and programmer Jordan Quiqueret to transform the active energy frequencies of the living Acacia into audible, rhythmic frequencies. Together, the Acacia speak of colonial truths in a mesmerising form. The symphonic vibrations generated by these plants invite a quiet contemplation of ideas of localisation and globalisation, as well as relocation and colonialisms.

Preceded by a long immersive phase, each of Mohamed Bourouissa's projects builds a new, enunciated situation. Unlike simplistic and false media constructions, the artist reintroduces complexity into the representation of the margins of hypervisibility.

IBRAHIM MAHAMA
Mohamed Bourouissa, Brutal Family Roots, 2020. Installation view for the 22nd Biennale of Sydney (2020), Cockatoo Island. Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney with generous support from the Oranges & Sardines Foundation, and assistance from the Ambassade de France en Australie; Institut Français; and the Council for Australia-Arab Relations. Courtesy the artist; Kamel Mennour, Paris; and Blum and Poe, Los Angeles. This artwork was created through an artist residency at the Bundanon Trust. Audio collaboration with Jordan Quinqueret, Nardean and MC Kronic. Photograph: Jessica Maurer
Mohamed Bourouissa, Brutal Family Roots, 2020. Installation view for the 22nd Biennale of Sydney (2020), Cockatoo Island. Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney with generous support from the Oranges & Sardines Foundation, and assistance from the Ambassade de France en Australie; Institut Français; and the Council for Australia-Arab Relations. Courtesy the artist; Kamel Mennour, Paris; and Blum and Poe, Los Angeles. This artwork was created through an artist residency at the Bundanon Trust. Audio collaboration with Jordan Quinqueret, Nardean and MC Kronic. Photograph: Jessica Maurer
Mohamed Bourouissa, Brutal Family Roots, 2020. Installation view for the 22nd Biennale of Sydney (2020), Cockatoo Island. Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney with generous support from the Oranges & Sardines Foundation, and assistance from the Ambassade de France en Australie; Institut Français; and the Council for Australia-Arab Relations. Courtesy the artist; Kamel Mennour, Paris; and Blum and Poe, Los Angeles. This artwork was created through an artist residency at the Bundanon Trust. Audio collaboration with Jordan Quinqueret, Nardean and MC Kronic. Photograph: Jessica Maurer
Mohamed Bourouissa, Brutal Family Roots, 2020. Installation view for the 22nd Biennale of Sydney (2020), Cockatoo Island. Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney with generous support from the Oranges & Sardines Foundation, and assistance from the Ambassade de France en Australie; Institut Français; and the Council for Australia-Arab Relations. Courtesy the artist; Kamel Mennour, Paris; and Blum and Poe, Los Angeles. This artwork was created through an artist residency at the Bundanon Trust. Audio collaboration with Jordan Quinqueret, Nardean and MC Kronic. Photograph: Jessica Maurer
Fabian Brown. Tennant Creek Brio.Photograph by Jesse Marlow for Art Guide Australia

NIRIN AT HOME | Mixed Media Artwork

Each of our education resources include an at home activity aimed at repurposing, reusing or recycling items found around the home. This week’s at home activity is inspired by Tennant Creek Brio's installations at Cockatoo Island and Artspace.

READ ABOUT TENNANT CREEK BRIO

NIRIN AT HOME | Mixed Media Artwork

Each of our education resources include an at home activity aimed at repurposing, reusing or recycling items found around the home.

This week’s at home activity is inspired by Tennant Creek Brio's installations at Cockatoo Island and Artspace.

See the series of images below by Jesse Marlow for Art Guide Australia.

Tennant Creek Brio.Photograph by Jesse Marlow for Art Guide Australia
Tennant Creek Brio.Photograph by Jesse Marlow for Art Guide Australia
Fabian Brown. Tennant Creek Brio.Photograph by Jesse Marlow for Art Guide Australia
Tennant Creek Brio.Photograph by Jesse Marlow for Art Guide Australia
Tennant Creek Brio.Photograph by Jesse Marlow for Art Guide Australia
Tennant Creek Brio.Photograph by Jesse Marlow for Art Guide Australia
Tennant Creek Brio.Photograph by Jesse Marlow for Art Guide Australia
Clifford-Thompson. Tennant Creek Brio. Photograph by Jesse Marlow for Art Guide Australia
Clifford Thompson and Fabian Brown. Photograph by Jesse Marlow for Art Guide Australia
Tennant Creek Brio.Photograph by Jesse Marlow for Art Guide Australia

In the creation of their work, the Tennant Creek Brio artists use an interplay of influences including Aboriginal desert traditions, abstract expressionism, action painting, found or junk art, street art and art activism.

Our activity encourages you to use found objects from home, such as recycled tissue boxes, cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls and paper, along with coloured pencils, markers and paint to decorate your artwork.

What you'll need

  • Found objects and recycled materials. For example, cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls, bottles and containers
  • Paint, coloured pencils, textas and other drawing materials to decorate your artwork

Method

  1. Gather your materials. Are they small or big? Can you draw on the surfaces of the items? Can you cut them into different shapes and sizes?
  2. Use your imagination and think of how your materials could be formed into creative projects. A square box could become a house, bottle tops could be wheels on a car ...
  3. In the photos above, you can see that Tennant Creek Brio use a lot of paint in their works. Their found objects are canvases for them to paint on. Can you paint or draw on your creations? Will you decorate them? Will you write messages on them?
At Home Activity. Recycled Materials.

Find more inspiration with Reverse Garbage!

Head to Reverse Garbage's website for some inspiring DIY home projects that you can create from recycled materials around your home:

https://reversegarbage.org.au/workshops/diy-projects/

If you're in the Sydney area, you can visit Reverse Garbage in Marrickville and source recycled materials for your artworks.

Share your work with us!

We’d love to see how you use these resources at home. Post your stories and photos on Instagram with the hashtag #NIRINathome.