Meet the Artist-Researcher: Varuni Kanagasundaram

Varuni Kanagasundaram is the first artist-researcher-in-residence at RMIT PlaceLab Brunswick. She is a current PhD candidate in the School of Art at RMIT University and has been recognised through international fellowships and residencies, public art commissions, and exhibitions in Australia.

As part of her residency at RMIT PlaceLab Brunswick, Varuni is inviting the local community to share in her practice through workshops. We sat down with her to learn more about her work as an artist-researcher.

How do you describe your creative practice?

My creative practice and current PhD research are centred on translating cultural practices of women from South Asia as a way to convey the feelings of displacement, transience, loss, uncertainty and memory experienced by migrants. These feelings are explored through the materiality of clay and textile and agency in rituals at places of encounter.

How has your background and experience informed your work?

I was born in Sri Lanka, then migrated to Aotearoa (New Zealand) as a child, and later moved to Australia. This has given me experience of multiple places and cultural practices. I like to engage with the community to understand the many experiences of marginalised communities through a creative project. I started exploring migrant stories during my undergraduate studies and have continued since.

Thanks, Varuni! You can learn more about Varuni’s practice on her website, http://www.varunik.com.

We loved hosting her first workshop at the RMIT PlaceLab Brunswick Studio and we look forward to helping out at her next workshops out and about in the Brunswick community.