About Zane

"Zane employs all manner of mediums and media, in realising visually stunning and critically challenging work"
Photography credit Greg Hillman / Kuranda Photography

Multi- disciplinary artist and performer Zane Saunders who is of Aboriginal descent, lives in Northern Queensland Australia. His ancestry is with the (Butchulla) and (Goongari) Peoples, of Southern Queensland. In the performance arena, Zane drives a very singular performance and installation agenda.

Drawing from strong visual art motif’s, traditional dance, sound, screen media and contemporary performance, Zane crafts one-off performances embedded in story and location. Zane describes his performances or dance style as “Artistic Movement”, a deep theatrical play in particular space and time.

Artist performs ritualistically an incorporeal language, drawing on his esoteric cultural roots, entwined in religious influences. Behind his work and expressive output, is a motivation to reconnect with his ancestral spirituality, prompting himself and asking audiences to re- engage, re- imagine and utilise their cultural origins, to find solidarity within and solace of mind and heart.

Over the past 15 years, Zane has developed a very deep and unique approach to contemporary dance/performance, drawing from his indigenous cultural heritage, and from the many experiences of contemporary society. Importantly, this work is placed in many diverse settings and contexts, transforming formal spaces and re-invigorating informal spaces, Zane employs all manner of mediums and media, in realising visually stunning and critically challenging work.

Drawing from his strong visual arts background, he utilises modern devices, everyday objects, lo-tech gadgets, natural materials and found objects in building immersive installation environments in which to perform.

Zane’s visual art is in many collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Gallery of Victoria. In 2011 Zane participated in an Australia Council artist in residence at Location One in New York in 2011. And performed at the first Indigenous Triennial 2010 (National Gallery Australia).

Currently, Zane is in creative development for the new conceptual work “Spirit”, part of a Australia Council for the Arts new work program, ‘Pilot Signature Works Innovation Lab’.

Curriculum

PERFORMANCES
2019 – “Cure” performance at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, Brisbane
2019 – “Engine Room” performed at Mixed Grill Muirhead space, Cairns
2018 – “Spirit” series Kickarts Gallery 1, Cairns Indigenous Art Faire, Pop Up Gallery, July
2018 – “Spirit” series interactive performance/ exhibit, Kickarts Gallery 2, May
2017 – Kickarts Members Exhibition 25 years celebration “Torrid Zone”, interactive installation performance 2017 – “Spirit” series CIAF Cairns Indigenous Art Faire, “Core” Muir Head Space- PopUp Gallery
2015 – “Get Kickn”, Kickarts Membership Exhibition, opening performance
2014 – “Still Presence”, collaboration performance, Arthouse, Cairns
2014 – “Sense/ Place”, collaborative performance, Nicholas Mills solo exhibition, Canopy Artspace, Cairns 2014 – “Leydin’s Discovery Exhibition, opening performance, Canopy Artspace, Cairns
2014 – “NAIDOC” performance, Department of Immagration and Border Protection, Cairns
2013 – “Mixed Grill”, Arthouse performance, Cairns
2013 – “House Lab”, collaboration performance, Arthouse, Cairns
2013 – Jute Theatre COCA, collaboration with Bonemap performed- “Lodestar”
2012 – CIAF Cairns Indigenous Artfaire, performed at Cairns Regional Art Gallery- “Handbrakes”
2012 – National Health Conference, Cairns Convention Centre, Mulong
2012 – “I Alien”, colloborative performance, Nicholas Mills, Kickarts, Cairns
2011 – New York Residency at Location One, performance- “Time Walk”
2010 – “Canberra National gallery Canberra
2010 – “Hrvatski” Studio’s Opening, Cairns
2010 – “Submerge”, Monthly performances, Cairns
2009 – “Parcel” Mofo Studio’s, Cairns
2009 – ‘On Edge’ “Blue Print”, Crate 59 Studio’s, Cairns
2009 – “On Edge”, LAPS, Cains
2009 – “Submerge”, On Edge, Cairns
2009 – “X-Plore Arts”, Atherton Tablelands
2009 – Wontulp- Cultural Talents Celebrations
2008 – On The Edge Exhibition, Tanks Art Centre
2008 – Yarrabah Community
2007 – ‘Being a Medium’ Contemporary Performance + Media
2006 – Envirofiesta, Cairns
2006 – On Edge Contemporary Performance + Media (Live Art in Public Spaces)
2006 – Naidoc Day Celebration, Kuranda
2006 – Dance Week, Tanks Art Centre, Cairns
2006 – ‘Lone Guinea Fowl’, Kick Arts Gallery, Cairns
2006 – ‘Habitus Habitat’, Great Walks, Kick Arts Gallery, Cairns
2006 – ABAF, Tanks Art Centre
2005 – On Edge, Tanks Art Centre
2004 – ‘Corresponding Latitudes’ Kick Arts Gallery, Cairns
 
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2009 – “Parcel” Mofo Studio’s Cairns
2006 – ‘Lone Guinea Fowl’ KickArts Gallery, Cairns
2004 – “Spirited Earth”, Parrot Fish Lodge, Port Douglas
1995 – ‘The Bauhaus Gallery’ George St Brisbane Qld
1990 – Hogarth Galleries Sydney, (with Andrew Williams)
 
PHOTO SHOOTS
2019 – Photo shoot portrait, “Cultural Testament” taken by Greg Hillman made contest finalist in Monthly Pro Vol 48 Viewbug competition
2019 – Photo shoot portrait, “James 4:14” taken by Greg Hillman made the Semi Finals of the Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2019
 
COMMISSIONS
2016 – Marine Debris Public Art- Mural, Reef Guardian Councils, GBRMPA
2010 – Performance at the National Art Gallery Canberra
2009 – ‘CIAF’, Tanks Art Centre, Cairns, “theming”
2009 – Creative Recovery ‘Mural’, Aurukun, QLD Health
2005 – Irene & George Aklis (private)
2004 – Cairns Regional Gallery (Street front windows)
2003 – Kuranda Streetscape, with 2 artists and 4 fabricators, Mareeba Shire Council, Arts Nexus
2002 – Parrot Fish Lodge, Port Douglas permanent exhibition 1999 – 2003 – Murals, workshops and artist in residence- Cairns North, Redlynch. Woree State Schools, Mooroobool Community Centre
2001 – Stained Glass Window design, St Xaviours Church, Kuranda
2000 – Art, sculptural pieces for Cairns City Council Reconciliation Project, displayed throughout region 1998 – Graft’n’Arts Wall murals and street sign, Cairns City Council
1997 – St Xaviours Kuranda, canvas painting
1997 – Street Art Banner, Cairns City Council, Tanks
1996 – Cairns Convention Centre 2 large lino prints
1995 – Brisbane International Airport 2 canvas paintings, mural 1995 – Textile design, Cairns Regional Gallery 1995 – Logo design Cairns Regional Gallery- (Commissions continued)
1994 – Undersea World, Cairns – 6 paintings
1993 – Cairns Airport – painted helicopter 1993 – National AIDS campaign poster, canvas painting P.R. Works, Weston, ACT
1993 – Wet Tropics and Marine Heritage Management, Laura, 2 canvas paintings “Caring for land sea and sky”
1993 – Tjapukai Dance Theatre 2 large canvas paintings
1990 – Kumagai. Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast, Qld.
1989 – Ramada Renaissance Sydney, lino prints
1989 – Kuranda Tjapukai Dance Theatre curtain (4m x 11m) Reproduced to t-shirts, posters, fabric, and various merchandise, `most reproduced and sold artwork’
1988 – Mural painting Smithfield High
 
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2014 – “Four Rooms”, Adelaide Festival
2011 – Location One, New York, USA
2011 – Stations of the Cross, Sydney
2010 – Hrvatski Studio’s Opening, Cairns
2009 – CIAF, Tanks Art Centre, “Total Being”
2008 – On The Edge Exhibition, Tanks Art Centre
2006 – ‘Gatherings 2’ (Touring Contemporary ABTSI Art Qld) KickArts Gallery, Cairns
2006 – Cairns Naidoc, Tanks Arts Centre
2006 – ‘Habitus Habitat’ Great Walks, Kick Arts Gallery
2005 – Cairns Naidoc, Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
2004 – ‘Corresponding Latitudes’ Kick Arts Gallery, Cairns
2004 – Cairns Naidoc, Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
2002 – “Ngerr Warr Kung” Early Day Story, Hilton Cairns
2001 – Goodwill Games, Brisbane
1999 – “From Sand to Bitumen” Baangu Minjaani Gallery
1997 – “Shadows in the Dust” Touring Show
1997 – “Kicking Cans” KickArts Collective Touring Show
1996 – “Linkage Leakage” Kick Arts Collective Touring Show
1995 – “Lingo Getting the Picture” Qld Art Gallery Brisbane Touring
1995 -“Now Days – Early Days” Cairns Regional Gallery
1994 – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Selected Exhibition Canberra ACT
1994 -“Epama Epam!” Everything has meaning (The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, and Alcheringa Gallery. Zane represented NQ in show, Canada
1993 – “Old Land New Tracks” Touring Prints Exhibition
1992 – “Turning Tides ” Australian Landscape Gallery, Brisbane 1990 – “You came to my country and you didn’t turn black Queensland Museum Brisbane
1990 – ‘Visions of Australia Landscape 11’ Riverside Ctr, Brisbane
1990 – “Balance” Qld Art Gallery Brisbane
1989 – Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne
1989 – Rockhampton Community Arts Centre
1988 – Cairns Art Society 42nd Annual Art Exhibition
1988 – South Pacific Festival of Art, Townsville
1988 – “Ageless Are’ Queensland Museum, Brisbane
1987-90 – Pacific International Hotel Cairns
 
PUBLICATIONS
2006 – “Peacemaker Story”, illustrator, Wontulp Bi- Buya College
2004 – Queensland Government Calendar 2000 – “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Contemporary Art” Edited by Anna Eglitis (inclusion)
1996 – Postcard Cairns Convention Centre, lino print, QAA, Avant Card Publishing
1993 – “New Tracks, Old Land” Contemporary Prints from Aboriginal Australia (inclusion)
1990 – “Balance l990 (Views, Visions, Influences)”, Queensland Art Gallery (inclusion)
1988 – “Aboriginality “Contemporary Aboriginal Painting and Prints, Jennifer Isaacs (inclusion)
 
EDUCATION, TRAINING & WORKSHOPS
2016 – SIgnature Works ‘Story Innovation Lab’, Sydney
2011 – Artist Residency New York, Location One
2010 – A.O.A Cert 3, Wontulp Bi- Buya College
2009 – “Indigelab”, Author Boyd’s Studio Residency, Performance workshop
2009 – Artist Role Modeling Workshops, x3 Schools
2008 – “TPS”- Time Place Space, Brisbane, Performance workshop
2006 – Certificate- C.O.D/ Theology, Wontulp Bi- Buya College, Cairns
2004 – Workplace Trainer and Assessor Certificate Cairns TAFE
2000 – Computer graphics TAFE
1998-1999 – Pottery TAFE
1997 – Creative Merchandising Tanks Art Centre Cairns
1994 – Instructional Skills 1993 – 3rd year certificate Cairns TAFE
1991 – 2 year associate Diploma (Printmaking) Canberra ACT
1987 – 2 year associate Diploma, Faculty Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies, Cairns
 
REPRESENTED
  • National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
  • National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
  • Northern Territory University Collection, Darwin
  • Griffith Artworks, Griffith University, Brisbane
  • OTC Collection
  • Telstra Corporation Collection
  • Gold Coast City Art Collection
  • Dreamspeakers Conference, Alberta Canada
  • Darwin Print Symposium, Northern Territory
  • Holmes-a-Court Collection
  • Rock Painting, Hall of Fame, Longreach
  • James Cook University Fibre Art Collection, Townsville
  • Cairns Regional Gallery Collection
  • Queensland Art Gallery

Biography

Artist Zane Saunders who is of Aboriginal descent, lives in Northern Queensland Australia. Identifies with the (Butchulla) and (Goongari) Peoples of Southern Queensland.

In the performance arena, Zane drives a very singular performance and installation agenda.

His works include the use of strong visual art motif’s and influences from cultural references, sound, screen media and contemporary performance, Zane crafts one-off performances embedded in story and location.

Zane describes his performances or dance style as “Artistic Movement”, a deep theatrical play in particular space and time.

Artist performs a ritualistically incorporeal language, drawing on his esoteric cultural roots, entwined in religious influences.

Behind his work and expressive output, is a motivation to reconnect with his ancestral spirituality, prompting himself and asking audiences to engage, re- imagine and utilise their cultural origins, to find solidarity within and solace of mind and heart.

Over the past 15 years, Zane has developed a very deep and unique approach to contemporary performance, drawing from his indigenous cultural heritage, and from the many experiences of contemporary society.

Importantly, this work is placed in many diverse settings and contexts, transforming formal spaces and re-invigorating informal spaces, Zane employs all manner of mediums and media, in realising visually stunning and critically challenging work.

Drawing from his strong visual arts background, he utilises modern devices, everyday objects, lo-tech gadgets, natural materials and found objects in building immersive installation environments in which to perform.

Zane’s visual art is in many collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Gallery of Victoria. In 2011 Zane participated in an Australia Council artist in residence at Location One in New York in 2011. And performed at the first Indigenous Triennial 2010 (National Gallery Australia).

Currently, Zane is in creative development for the new conceptual work “Spirit”, part of a Australia Council for the Arts new work program, ‘Pilot Signature Works Innovation Lab’.

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