Failing to Communicate

Emerging Canberra-based artist Sabrina Baker explores communication and visual language, and uses maritime signal flags, performance and video to comment on the transient nature of Canberra’s population.

Baker is interested in communication, the way we do it, how we seem to do so much of it and how, in our extremely connected world we can be so easily misunderstood or fail to say what we really mean. Maritime signal flags are a visual language used to communicate between ships out at sea using distinct patterns and colours to clearly indicate things like ‘no’, ‘I need assistance’ and ‘keep clear of me’.

This body of work comes from the artists’ experience of moving to and living in Canberra. As a transient city many people move here with a plan to leave, and those that grow up here often leave for the big cities. It can be difficult to connect with people in such a place, often passing each other like ships in the night, failing to connect altogether.

Sabrina Baker is an emerging artist and curator based in Canberra. After graduating from the ANU School of Art in 2013 she took up the role of Gallery Manager at Canberra Contemporary Art Space where she has curated several exhibitions including recently launched Me Time (2017). Baker has exhibited solo shows in the ACT (ANCA) and Melbourne as well as curated group shows and last year was shortlisted for the Yen Magazine female art award. Sabrina also co-directs The Garage Gallery, presenting exhibitions in unused spaces across the ACT. Sabrina’s art practice is focussed on her insatiable appetite for conversation in a world of never-ending technology and communication.

In conversation event with Sabrina Baker, Ioulia Terizis and Sean O’Connell.
2pm, Sunday 18 June 2017.

Listen in here.