Artist Statement
The grid has been acknowledged as a ubiquitous measuring device. It is being used in architecture, cartography, engineering, medicine to name but a few areas of application. However the grid can distort as much as it is a distortion in itself. It is not free of pathology and it is not without its casualties. At the heart of my practice lies the conviction that there are qualities that escape measurement. Processes play an important part in my work. It matters whether the materials are dissolved, fixed, fired, wound up, cut, distorted, sagging or nearing collapse. I am interested in the loss of certitude and when lines which delineate boundaries and organise forms become fugitive. This is when they can potentially form an optimistic relationship to the future. There are holes in the grid and the future is open. It is about what is possible.
Biography
Marzena Topka was born in Chojnice, Poland in 1969. She arrived in Australia in 1983 and initially settled in Adelaide, South Australia. She moved to Perth, Western Australia in 1985 where she currently works and resides. She studied art history at the University of Western Australia graduating with a BA (Fine Art) (hons) in 1992. She also completed an Advanced Diploma at the WA School of Art, Design and Media, Central TAFE, 2003 (now Central Institute of Technology); BA (Art) (hons) 2005 and a Master of Creative Arts at Curtin University, Bentley Western Australia in 2011. She was awarded a prize for innovation upon graduating from Central TAFE and in 2004 was selected for the Hatched National Graduate Exhibition showcasing new art from Australia’s top graduates. In 2009 she was awarded a Galerie Düsseldorf Scholarship. In 2006 and 2012 she received funding for exhibition development from the Department of the Culture and the Arts. The artist had a solo exhibition, Boundaries of Beige, at Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle in 2014 and Light weeks away…, at Galerie Düsseldorf, Mosman Park in 2010. She also participated in numerous group exhibitions including Sum of Parts at Gallery Central, 2020; Here&Now19 at Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, 2019; Flawless Measures at MelodySmith Gallery, 2014; LP the times they are a changing!, Galerie Düsseldorf, 2013; Open by Necessity, The Museum of Natural Mystery, North Perth, 2012; GET smART, John Curtin Gallery, 2010; Wallpaper, Central TAFE Gallery, Perth, 2010; Safety Measures, The Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery, Fremantle, 2008 and Salve, Breadbox Gallery, Northbridge, 2006. Topka’s work is held in numerous private collections. Since 2005 Topka has worked as a tutor and unit coordinator at Curtin University, School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry, Open Universities Art Studies.
C.V.
Academic Background and Specialisations
Curtin University, Master of Creative Arts (Fine Art), 2011 – Deleuze and Guattari’s Concept of Lines of Flight within Creative Practice, 2011
Curtin University, BA Honours (Fine Art), 2005 – Postmodernism, Multi-disciplinary Art Practice
Central TAFE, Advanced Diploma of Fine Art, 2003 – Ceramics, Painting, Sculpture and Digital Media.
University of Western Australia, BA Honours (Art History), 1993 – 17th C European Art, 19th C European Art, Feminism, Australian Art and Critical Theory
Solo Exhibitions
Boundaries of Beige, Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, 2014
Light Weeks Away…, Galerie Düsseldorf, Mosman Park, 2010
Post, Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, 1999
Disclosures, The Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery, Fremantle, 1997
Defeating the Mask, Kulcha, Fremantle, 1997
Select Group Exhibitions
What Remains, Lost Eden Gallery, Dwellingup, 2022
Totemism: Climate Altered Species, Spectrum Project Space, Mount Lawley, 2021
Transmigrations, Nyisztor Studios, Palmyra, 2021
Sum of Parts, Gallery Central, Perth, 2020
Here&Now19, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, Nedlands, 2019
Staff Room, Edwin Millen House, Victoria Park, 2018
Drawing, Art Collective, Perth, 2018
Polygraphics: Walking the Line, Gallery Central, Perth, 2016
Staff Room, Free Range Gallery, Perth, 2015
Staff Room, PS Art Space (PSAS), Fremantle, 2014
Otherworldly, Heathcote Museum & Gallery, Applecross, 2014
Flawless Measures, Melody Smith Gallery, Carlisle South, 2014
LP the times they are a changing! Galerie Düsseldorf, Mosman Park, 2013
Staff Room, The Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery, Fremantle, 2012
Open by Necessity, The Museum of Natural Mystery, North Perth, 2012
6 x 6, Front Room Gallery, Bunbury Regional Art Galleries, 2012
Staff Room, The Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery, Fremantle, 2011
GET smART, John Curtin Gallery, Bentley, 2010
dOFa09, Department of Art Post Graduate Exhibition, John Curtin Gallery, Bentley, 2009
24 Hour Drawing Project, Central TAFE Artist-in-Residence Space, Perth, 2009
Safety Measures, The Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery, Fremantle, 2008
Closet Circus, Bunbury Art Gallery, Bunbury, 2008
Hatched 04, Healthway National Graduate Show, PICA (Perth Institute of Contemporary Art), Perth, 2004
Presentations and Workshops
Social Fabric Symposium, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, Nedlands, 2019
Tactile Tour, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, Nedlands, 2019
Boundaries of Beige Artist Talk, Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, 2014
6 x 6 South West Artist Talks, Bunbury Regional Art Galleries, Bunbury, 2012
Department of Art Tuesday Forum, Curtin University, 2009
Third Day Workshop, Engaging Place(s)/Engaging Culture(s) Conference, CUSP Institute, Fremantle, 2008
Engaging Place(s)/Engaging Culture(s) Conference, Curtin University, 2008
Language of Materials, workshop with Katrina Virgona, St Hilda Art Camp, Artist Talks, St Hilda Art Camp, 2008
BEAD Symposium, Curtin University, 2007
Tuesday Forum, Department of Art, 2007
Contemporary Multicultural Arts Forum, Kulcha, Fremantle, 1996
NESB Women as Visual Artists, The Ethnic Community Women’s Conference and Artist Workshop, Noalimba Centre, Bateman, 1995
Awards and Residencies
Artist in Residence, Sum of Parts, Gallery Central, Perth, 2020
Invited Participant, Here&Now19, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, Nedlands, 2019
ArtSource Artist Studio Residency, East Perth, 2008-2019
Curtin University Humanities Teaching Award for Excellence & Innovation in Teaching: Team Online Educator, 2017. A team award with Gina Cinanni, Moira Doropoulos, Joel Louie and Dr Anna Nazzari
Artist in Residence, Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, 2014
Department of Culture and the Arts, Development Grant, 2012
Galerie Düsseldorf Post Graduate Scholarship Award, 2009
APA/CUPS Australian Postgraduate Award/Curtin University Postgraduate Scholarship, Department of Education and Training and Curtin University, 2007-2009
ArtsWA Arts Development Grant, 2006
Invited Participant, Hatched 04, Healthway National Graduate Show, PICA (Perth Institute of Contemporary Art), Perth, 2004
Award for Innovation, WA School of Art, Design and Media, Central TAFE, 2003