The Folklore of Joan and Tony, 2022
Gillian Kayrooz, The Folklore of Joan and Tony, 2022 (1957 - 1969), 35mm scan giclee print, Merrylands, Australia. Photo Credit - Document Photography.
Gillian Kayrooz, Reminiscing Memorial Ave, Interview with Elizabeth Kayrooz and Matthew Kayrooz, 2022, audio recording, Parramatta, Australia.
The Folklore of Joan and Tony is an archive of recently discovered Kayrooz family 35mm scans. These rare and beautiful images are being shown to the public for the very first time. The collection spans from the late 1950’s to the early 1960’s, and captures life in the suburbs in the backyard of the Kayrooz family home in Merrylands, Western Sydney.
The installation recreates the backyard of 17 Memorial Ave Merrylands that is enlarged as an image on the wall behind. It features the classic hills hoist, banana trees, ma’s rose garden and pa’s homemade shed. Today this plot of land is more commonly known as the Merrylands Police Station.
The grass landing invites audiences to listen to my father and aunt who are frequently pictured in the collection of images as children. They reminisce antidotes of their childhood in the suburbs and highlight local life in the area of Cumberland, speaking to the generational change experienced in the neighborhood over the course of the past 70 years.
This body of work unexpectedly initiated an intimate and personal development period between myself and my family. Discovering this collection of never before seen images together allowed us to reflect on our family lineage; from migration to arrival, and the fruitful nature of Western Sydney’s ever-evolving ecosystem of culture and community.
Thank you to my family, my aunt, Elizabeth my dad, Matthew and my grandparents Joan and Tony.
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Cumberland City Council and City of Parramatta are neighbouring local government areas in Western Sydney, all that separates is an arbitrary border. Granville Centre Art Gallery, which resides within Cumberland, has partnered with Parramatta Artists’ Studios to celebrate what a neighbourhood can mean, what makes it special, why do we live where we do and then how we do connect. Artists Marian Abboud, Heath Franco, Rebecca Gallo, Tarik Ahlip & Linda Brescia, Gillian Kayrooz, Venessa Possum, Kalanjay Dhir and participants of the Youth Mentoring Program have created new works that explore their own neighbourhoods and communities, shining a light on why Western Sydney is so special.
Cumberland City Council and City of Parramatta are neighbouring local government areas in Western Sydney, all that separates is an arbitrary border. Granville Centre Art Gallery, which resides within Cumberland, has partnered with Parramatta Artists’ Studios to celebrate what a neighbourhood can mean, what makes it special, why do we live where we do and then how we do connect. Artists Marian Abboud, Heath Franco, Rebecca Gallo, Tarik Ahlip & Linda Brescia, Gillian Kayrooz, Venessa Possum, Kalanjay Dhir and participants of the Youth Mentoring Program have created new works that explore their own neighbourhoods and communities, shining a light on why Western Sydney is so special.
Gillian Kayrooz, The Folklore of Joan and Tony, 2022 (1957 - 1969), 35mm scan giclee print, Merrylands, Australia.
Photo Credit - Document Photography.
Gillian Kayrooz, Reminiscing Memorial Ave, Interview with Elizabeth Kayrooz and Matthew Kayrooz, 2022, audio recording, Parramatta, Australia.
CHAINMAIL, 2018 - 2022
Gillian Kayrooz and Natalie Ang, CHAINMAIL Capsule 3, 2022, Guildford secret location, Image Credit - Katy Cao
Gillian Kayrooz and Natalie Ang, CHAINMAIL Capsule 3, Who Are You Wearing Exhibition, Fairfield City Museum and Gallery, 2022, collection release, photographyic series, video documentation and collection installation.
CHAINMAIL is a Western Sydney clothing label founded by creative directors Natalie Ang and Gillian Kayrooz. The label launched and made a name for itself in 2018 at an underground one night event in Sydney supported by emerging western sydney musicians Clarissa Mei, Temgazi and DJ Astro and Esky. The first release featured a limited capsule collection that aimed to create comfortable, quality, affordable and minimalist streetwear made by and for Western Sydney. Since then, CHAINMAIL has stuck to it’s a non-conformist approach and minimalist run of garments with each collection - selling out within hours of every release. CHAINMAIL was created in response to what the creators saw as a lack of engagement with the Western Sydney creative sphere and has since built an unconventional community with one-off events and nostalgic photography. At its core the brand promotes collaboration with other emerging creatives from the area that together showcases a unique local perspective.
CHAINMAIL: Capsule 3
In its 5th year anniversary, CHAINMAIL returns with CHAINMAIL: Capsule 3. This collection documents their third capsule release and most unique event to date. A body of work that documents CHAINMAIL’s grassroots-inspired business model, influenced by the creators personal experience of car boot exchanges with friends and regular visits to local car parks as a social hangout space. The body of work exhibited at Fairfield City Museum and Gallery not only features rare items from the third collection, but a series of photographic prints along with a lo-fi video documenting the creation and process in the lead up to the release night. This series see’s CHAINMAIL return to a core founding vision - to create events hosted in Western Sydney for Western Sydney communities.
Gillian Kayrooz and Natalie Ang, CHAINMAIL Capsule 3 - Who Are You Wearing Exhibition, Fairfield City Museum and Gallery, 2022.
Image Credit - Gillian Kayrooz.
Image Credit - Gillian Kayrooz.
The documented footage from CHAINMAIL: Capsule 3 features a range of local perspectives from locals in the carpark, along with those attending the event to purchase the limited run of new releases that features artwork from Western Sydney artist SAARA138. Promoted through social media and word of mouth alone, the event speaks to the power of community at a time where interaction and intimacy have been limited. The body of work as a whole will capture the genuine passion CHAINMAIL has for creating accessible fashion and pioneering local streetwear culture that features unique, sustainable, quality items at an accessible price point.
Gillian Kayrooz and Natalie Ang, CHAINMAIL Capsule 3, Who Are You Wearing Exhibition, Fairfield City Museum and Gallery, 2022, collection release, photographyic series, video documentation and collection installation.
Image credit - Liza Moscatelli.
Image credit - Liza Moscatelli.
Gillian Kayrooz and Natalie Ang, CHAINMAIL Capsule 3, 2022, Guildford secret location.
Image Credit - Katy Cao.
Image Credit - Katy Cao.
RESIDUAL, 2022
Gillian Kayrooz, Residual, 2022, Jamming With Strangers Exhibition, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, 4th December 2021 - 27th February 2022
Photo by Chantel Bann.
︎ Exhibition Information
︎Artist Interview
Residual is an installation including four photographic images printed onto silk organza and suspended from a metal structure. The work captures th artist’s close friends re-creating four typical stages of a night out for a group of friends living in Western Sydney. The works highlight the intimate social moment that surround going to the event’ which help secure bond for long lasting friendships and create opportunity for unexpected interaction with new people.
Music has the potential to create long lasting effect on our lives, whether we’re in the music industry or the audiences getting ready for the night out. Residual looks at everything that encompasses going to a music event, but not the music event or live gig itself. Each tableau is prompted by memory and lived experience from myself and those who are participating in the work, who are all my close friends. These four scenes are suspended within a metal structure where the lightness and transparency of the silk allows visitors to catch glimpses of the images. I hope it prompts viewers to socialise with each other and reflect on the scenes depicted, and potentially recall their own memories of making connections in all the moments that surround music events.
The artist would like to thank Natalie Ang, Ann Ding, Alessandra Femenias, Rachel Fogarty for their collaboration and ongoing friendship.
Gillian Kayrooz, Tactic, 2021, C-Type Photograph
Gillian Kayrooz, Pres, 2021, C-Type Photograph
Gillian Kayrooz, Residual, 2022, Jamming With Strangers Exhibition, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Photograph on silk installation.
Photo by Chantel Bann
ARGILEH AT WEDDING CAKE ROCK, 2020
Gillian Kayrooz, Argileh at Wedding Cake Rock, 2020, Firstdraft Gallery, Woolloomooloo Wednesday,
7 October 2020 - Thursday, 29 October 2020
︎ Catalogue Essay
︎ 3D Virtual Tour
Argileh at Wedding Cake Rock is a satirical exhibition which nods to culture, tradition and ethnicity in the digital age.
The exhibition explores the intersection of experimental and documentary style photography through a series of tableaux; constructed from surreal appropriations of Western Sydney neighbourhoods. The works are a reflection of both personal experience and an ongoing engagement with local personas, neighbourhoods, cultural motifs and trends.
The artist would like to thank the Ang Household, Natalie Ang, Shaleha Deen, Alessandra Femenias, Clarissa Mei, Helen Nguyen, Ivy Perlitz, Laura Ranola, Sara Tamim, Alyssa Yang, Talia Smith, Maryanne Taouk for their collaboration and ongoing friendship.
The exhibition explores the intersection of experimental and documentary style photography through a series of tableaux; constructed from surreal appropriations of Western Sydney neighbourhoods. The works are a reflection of both personal experience and an ongoing engagement with local personas, neighbourhoods, cultural motifs and trends.
The artist would like to thank the Ang Household, Natalie Ang, Shaleha Deen, Alessandra Femenias, Clarissa Mei, Helen Nguyen, Ivy Perlitz, Laura Ranola, Sara Tamim, Alyssa Yang, Talia Smith, Maryanne Taouk for their collaboration and ongoing friendship.
Gillian Kayrooz, Argileh at Wedding Cake Rock, 2020, Firstdraft Gallery, Woolloomooloo
Wednesday, 7 October 2020 - Thursday, 29 October 2020, Images by Jessica Maurer
Gillian Kayrooz, Argileh At Wedding Cake Rock - Social Shrine, 2020
Gillian Kayrooz, Argileh At Wedding Cake Rock - The Luncheon on the Grass, 2020
Gillian Kayrooz, Argileh At Wedding Cake Rock - Bitch Bash, 2020
︎A second iteration of the work in 2022
Gillian Kayrooz, Argileh at Wedding Cake Rock, 2022, The Fauvette Loureiro Memorial Scholarship, Sydney College of the Arts
© Gillian Kayrooz 2022. all rights reserved.
52 ACTIONS: COMMONGROUND, 2021
Gillian Kayrooz, The Commonground Series, 2021, comissioned for
Artspace - 52 Actions.
Full Program ︎
Artspace - 52 Actions.
Full Program ︎
52 ACTIONS is Artspace’s latest online commissioning platform supporting artists living and working in Australia through the development and presentation of new works.
This new iteration utilises the digital framework established by 52 ARTISTS 52 ACTIONS to support Australian artists, collectives, performers, writers and creatives through the commissioning of new work. Each week for a year a different participant will present a new commission on the Artspace website and across our digital platforms – from live performance to photography and video, sound and text-based work to interventions, digital public programs and more.
Hey, how are yous? This week I want you to wander with no intention and in good company, or to give it to you straight - take a walk with a mate.
This series of actions titled, ‘Commonground’ revisits the three suburbs that I grew up in and have spent the majority of my life travelling between for school, work, family and friends.
This new iteration utilises the digital framework established by 52 ARTISTS 52 ACTIONS to support Australian artists, collectives, performers, writers and creatives through the commissioning of new work. Each week for a year a different participant will present a new commission on the Artspace website and across our digital platforms – from live performance to photography and video, sound and text-based work to interventions, digital public programs and more.
Hey, how are yous? This week I want you to wander with no intention and in good company, or to give it to you straight - take a walk with a mate.
This series of actions titled, ‘Commonground’ revisits the three suburbs that I grew up in and have spent the majority of my life travelling between for school, work, family and friends.
Walking through Parramatta for seven minutes and thirty seconds.
Walking through Merrylands for five minutes and forty-one seconds.
Walking through Guildford for nine minutes and one second.
Parramall, 2021
The Roxy, 2021
Parramall Remains, 2021Parramatta, Merrylands and Guildford each have their own charm, for better or for worse, as well as incredible food and architecture shaped over decades of multicultural communities calling these suburbs home.
I wanted to carry out the simple action of walking, to take you with me through these spaces of domestic and social utility, in particular laneways, arcades, carparks, local shopping malls and main streets. The ‘tiny planet’ videos are created with a 360 degree camera that visually references and reshapes the stigma-fueled ‘othering’ of Western Sydney. I hope it is both cathartic and a point of reference for future trips to these neighbourhoods (particularly for a feed - you can’t go wrong).
I wanted to carry out the simple action of walking, to take you with me through these spaces of domestic and social utility, in particular laneways, arcades, carparks, local shopping malls and main streets. The ‘tiny planet’ videos are created with a 360 degree camera that visually references and reshapes the stigma-fueled ‘othering’ of Western Sydney. I hope it is both cathartic and a point of reference for future trips to these neighbourhoods (particularly for a feed - you can’t go wrong).
Merrylanda Cakes, 2021
Merrylands Arcade, 2021
Merrylands Community Garden, 2021
These visual maps might also belong to a not-too-distant future archive as these sites undergo rapid change. Some suburbs are becoming unrecognisable through constant states of mass development, homogenisation and gentrification, and historical buildings, malls and generations-owned small businesses are in the process of being demolished.
The walks are accompanied by a visual archive of photos I have taken over the past year and include a few cheeky annotations to give them background and character. Finally, I’ve created an Instagram filter that designates you a freestanding South-West carpark to develop your own affinity with.
I acknowledge and pay my respects to the Darug people, the traditional custodians of the land on which I work and walk on. Sovereignty was never ceded.
The walks are accompanied by a visual archive of photos I have taken over the past year and include a few cheeky annotations to give them background and character. Finally, I’ve created an Instagram filter that designates you a freestanding South-West carpark to develop your own affinity with.
I acknowledge and pay my respects to the Darug people, the traditional custodians of the land on which I work and walk on. Sovereignty was never ceded.
Guildford Pedestrain Overpass, 2021
Behind Guildford Hotel, 2021
The Pipeline, 2021
Gillian Kayrooz, Walking Through Parramatta for Seven Minutes and Thirty Seconds, 52 Artists 52 Actions Artspace, 2021, installation by StoryBox Parramatta, single channel video, colour, sound, 7 minutes, 30 seconds
© Gillian Kayrooz 2022. all rights reserved.