Artist Statement
Sarah Edwards is an interdisciplinary artist based in Melbourne. Her PhD research - The Museum Hummingbird: Transforming Nature, Creating Wonder - took its inspiration from the methods used by natural history museums to prepare specimens. By appropriating these transformative processes, Sarah questioned our relationship with nature as mediated through natural history collections.
By experimenting with light and sound, Sarah’s artwork examines pre-sixteenth century concepts of the world as represented through mythology, alchemy and poetry. Framed by Foucault's seminal The Order of Things (2007), Sarah reflects on systems that ascribe meaning to the natural world.
Qualifications
2016
Doctor of Philosophy, School of Art, RMIT University. Completed
2009 - 2010
Master of Fine Art, RMIT University
1990
Masters of Art Curatorship, The University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Education (Fine Art), The University of Melbourne
Artistic Endeavours
2021
Site & Sound, McClelland Art Gallery, Mornington Peninsula
2020
Sketchbook Project, Brooklyn Art Library, USA
2018
Chaos & Order, RMIT Gallery, Survey of RMIT University's Art & Sonic Collections
Fielding, ARC funded sound & environment project: "Designing Green Spaces for Biodiversity & Human Well-Being
2017
Phantasmagoria, Bogong Centre for Sound Culture
Museum of Lost Public Notes, George Paton Gallery, The University of Melbourne
2016
The Botanic Garden, St Kilda Town Hall, City of Port Phillip
Artist-in-residence, Bongong Centre for Sound Culture, Bogong Village
2015
Through a Glass Darkly, mentorship with artist Rosslynd Piggott, RMIT Gallery
Artist-in-residence, Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
2014
Spirit Collection, White Night Festival, Melbourne
terra et fluvius, Outward, School of Art, University of Tasmania
Between Heaven & Earth, MoreArt, Moreland City Council
2013
Sonic City: Liquid Architecture, Carlton Gardens & Melbourne University
Grounded, Counihan Gallery, Brunswick
Echo Chamber, First Site Gallery, RMIT University
Between Heaven & Earth, Melbourne Fringe Festival
2012
Wunderkammer, Leeper Library, Trinity College, University of Melbourne
Wind Up Bird Chronicle, Artisan Books, Fitzroy
Artists for Kids Culture, Brightspace, St Kilda
2011
Cabinet of Curiosities, Leeper Library, Trinity College, University of Melbourne
A 21st Century Wunderkammer, Red Gallery, Fitzroy
Opus, Artisan Books, Fitzroy
2010
Drawing Out: Constellations, RMIT School of Art Gallery
New Collectables: art work selected to promote exhibition, RMIT
re:vision: new art from old, First Site Gallery, RMIT
Marking Time, Brunswick Arts Space, Melbourne Fringe Festival
Postcard Show, Linden Gallery, St Kilda
2009
Shelter: On Kindness, assistant to Professor Fujimori, RMIT Gallery
Art Melbourne, Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton
Post, Place Gallery, Richmond
Between the Lines, Artisan Books, Fitzroy
2008
Finders Keepers: the art of collecting, First Site, RMIT
Into the Fold, Artisan Books, Fitzroy
Exquisite Creatures, Tape Project, Melbourne
Taxi, assistant to Fiona Jack, Project Space, RMIT
2007
Text/txt, Artisan Books, Fitzroy
City of Port Phillip Business Awards, commissioned artist
2006
Southside Arts, Hon. John Thwaites Parliamentary Offices
Represented artist, Anne Middleton Art Gallery, Albert Park
