Kaspar Schmidt Mumm - This Is A Place
My practice is a reaction to societal ideas of cultural identity. Born in Germany, raised in Australia with Canadian, Colombian and Pakistani heritage, both sides of my family have immigrated for three generations. My work is a constant effort to develop an artistic language that crosses the borders of our cultural boundaries.
I construct systems for exploring the complexity of multiculturalism. Through collaborative action my collectives present events that blur the lines of protest, community gathering and ceremony. Our activations have included things such as; Bread-Mask baking in a Border Security Centre; Pot Luck community dinners with professional food photography; and festival promenades of local shops based on [community-built] dramaturgical devices.
My mother, an artist, began my training in traditional visual arts — drawing, painting, assemblage — which I continue to implement. Although, it is her ability to engage international communities through her work in art therapy which has informed the foundation of my theoretical practice.
After exhibiting around the world in my early twenties, my work has increasingly involved performance. In 2019, I secured an internship with Darren O'Donnell from Social Theatre company, The Mammalian Diving Reflex. This was a pivotal point in my career, teaching me the dramaturgical aspects of performance production.
I construct systems for exploring the complexity of multiculturalism. Through collaborative action my collectives present events that blur the lines of protest, community gathering and ceremony. Our activations have included things such as; Bread-Mask baking in a Border Security Centre; Pot Luck community dinners with professional food photography; and festival promenades of local shops based on [community-built] dramaturgical devices.
My mother, an artist, began my training in traditional visual arts — drawing, painting, assemblage — which I continue to implement. Although, it is her ability to engage international communities through her work in art therapy which has informed the foundation of my theoretical practice.
After exhibiting around the world in my early twenties, my work has increasingly involved performance. In 2019, I secured an internship with Darren O'Donnell from Social Theatre company, The Mammalian Diving Reflex. This was a pivotal point in my career, teaching me the dramaturgical aspects of performance production.