The Personhood: Passion to Paycheck

How Artist Lauren Matthews Fights For Justice Through Her Multidisciplinary Craft Practices

Natalie Siagian Season 1 Episode 8

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DISCLAIMER* & TRIGGER WARNING.⁠ This episode discusses experiences as an incest victim survivor. Lauren would like you to know that she is safe and supported. If you need support or advice please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.⁠

🎙️In today’s chat, we learn from Creator and Artist Lauren Matthews @laurenmatthewsartist a multidisciplinary artist living on  Wadawurrung Land in Regional Victoria, Australia.⁠

She is an emerging artist, researcher, feminist, activist, and survivor. Lauren came to art later in life and works on projects using the tradition of craft practice to generate social change through the tenacity of materials. ⁠

She explores domestic dichotomies and social issues, from the intensity of trauma to creating works that challenge patriarchal assumptions and the culture of owning and collecting objects.⁠

Her practice is very personal and explores her childhood experiences. With limited recollection of being a child because of the incest and childhood sexual abuse inflicted on me from an early age. As a result of this trauma, she experienced dissociative amnesia as a way of helping her feel safe.⁠

However, she is a survivor and fights for #socialchange.⁠

She is a PhD Candidate at Federation University exploring the topic ‘Survival Memories: How representing and naming incest survival could challenge taboos, influence public discourse, ideologies, and contributes to social change through the history and tenacity of materials.⁠

Not only does her background provide her with a unique voice, the materials and methods she uses, embroidering and hand-quilting, are predominately viewed as ‘craft-based allows Lauren to provide a public demonstration of what is often a private domestic artform. Her practice builds on the rich tradition of feminist artists who articulate their trauma through text, textiles, and DIY principles.⁠

In this episode, Lauren will share her personal journey and what she’s learned along the way on the power of risk-taking. change making and sitting with discomfort. ⁠

Connect with Lauren Matthews Artist

https://www.instagram.com/laurenmatthewsartist/
http://www.laurenmatthewsartist.com/

Connect with Nat Siagian x The Personhood

https://www.instagram.com/nat.asia
https://www.instagram.com/thepersonhood/

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