Media Space Symposium and Exhibition

Roundtable Symposium – Media-Space and Art in Perth, 1981-1986

Exhibition AGWA – 16th July-20th November 2022

This roundtable will bring together speakers Julian Goddard, Anne Graham and Paul Thomas to discuss Media-Space in the context of experimental art Practice in Perth in the early to mid 1980s. Focusing on the emergence of activities that challenged the previous condition of art in Perth, this event will reflect on and extend discussions initiated by the group during this influential period.

The first five years of the 1980s was an especially vibrant and dynamic moment in the Perth art scene stimulated by the confluence of structural change (new AGWA in 1979, Centre for Fine Arts at UWA, PRAXIS and its journal PRAXISM) and an influx of expatriate artists.

In 1981 Media-Space began running regular Friday meetings by a small group of artists to develop an ‘inquiry model’ that became prevalent in the development of its artistic practices. Over five years Media-Space produced a plethora of publications, performances, installations, videos and exhibitions. Coupled with the emergence of new technologies, Media-Space created an environment of experimentation and change challenging the prevailing tropes of art in Western Australia. It became nationally and internationally recognized as a group practicing leading edge art of the time.