Content Warning: this artwork contains references to trauma and abuse. 

Monique Gawne is a Taiwanese Australian Multidisciplinary Artist working on unceded Boon Wurrung and Woi Wurrung land. While Monique predominantly practices printmaking, she also creates work within the disciplines of painting, installation, ceramics, and sound. Monique’s practice is conceptually grounded, her works embrace the subjectivity of lived experiences and learning. There is a rawness and honesty which is produced regardless of the medium she is creating through. Monique is currently in her final semester of a double degree (Honours) in Fine Art and Secondary Education at Monash University. She is the recipient of the Firestation Print Access Award and of the Blackbird Protostars Grant.

How long do you let yourself spiral for? A lament and a love song, Monique uses field recordings of authentic conversations within her life to explore the mental processes of healing from trauma. Monique works manually within the sonic field, using physical objects of symbolic significance to warp and manipulate her field recordings. From fans, to beer cans, to rusty speakers found at hostels, to the mug which he gave her. Monique re-records her field recordings into and through these objects, creating new layers of ambience and emotion. Monique works intuitively. All decisions are guided by conceptual and symbolic direction, the work not only explores her healing process, but is the healing process. While making the artwork, the microphone becomes a point of release, intimate thoughts and feelings are shared to this device, now a therapeutic tool. It goes further, the microphone becomes a tool of accountability, Monique records her daily actions, the self-surveillance motivates her into positive behaviours. She records herself as she gets out of bed, brushes her teeth, gets changed, says hi to friends, and walks into town. Monique is reflecting on and working through these layered emotions regarding trauma as she creates this artwork. For best listening, Monique advises using quality headphones, and listening with your throat and your chest.

'How long do you let yourself spiral for?' by Monique Gawne

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