Inveresk contributions form part of Dark Mofo showcase

Twenty live installations were featured through the Tasmanian College of Arts as part of the exhibition, which wraps up on Sunday. 

TCotA Head of Art John Vella said it has been a memorable experience for both students and spectators.

“We’ve had a really incredible public response,” he said.

“There has been a lot of very positive feedback and the students have even been mentioned in a national review of the festival.

“The students from the north have really made some great contributions.”

Contributions that included Touch Me if You Trust Me, a cell dedicated to creating contact between different social groups.

Three people would sit behind a window and encourage passersby to make eye contact and touch them through the glass.

While it would contain different people each night, the trio would always consist of one Caucasian person and other from a minority group, including transgender or someone of multicultural descent.

Director Natalie Venettacci, who is studying at the Inveresk Campus, said the concept came from wanting to break down the barriers surrounding human connection at its most basic level.

“I thought it would be interesting to see who human beings connected with the most and who they trusted more to connect with.

“There have been some who have just tried to get a reaction from those behind the glass, but I have also shared some beautiful moments with people, some of whom have even cried after making eye contact for a period of time. 

Other cells from Panopticon included Waveform, Cocoon, Blackout, Input/Output, Chat Roulette, Curtain Call, The Silent Observer, as well as many more.

Running from 5pm to 10pm across seven nights, each cell contained at least one live body at all times during exhibition hours, and were visible from the ground floor windows of the Hunter Street campus.

Mr Vella said the project forced the students to think beyond their studies.

“They’ve all been very dedicated in followin through with it,” he said.

“This would be the first time they weren’t treated as students, but as Dark Mofo exhibitors.”