In her first major solo exhibition, Salote Tawale has brought together painting, sculpture, and karaoke in an expansive installation that explores identity and memory.

“Memory can come from a smell, sound, touch and a feeling. It is a pathway to our identity. The mind makes sense of this information, consciously and subconsciously,” says the Australian-Fijian artist. “My upcoming exhibition, I remember you, is a translation of these things; of the histories that relate to me and my body. Through the manipulation of found materials, I reconstruct, expand and collapse these moments in time, to consider the power of objects, people and places, and the energy that emanates from them.”

Talawe has created a ‘memory-bank’ inside Carriageworks. The space is decorated with motifs from her Fijian childhood—hibiscus paintings on the walls, plywood cut-outs of people and plants arranged like a theatrical set, even a partial replica of her family home. There’s even a makeshift karaoke booth towards the rear of the gallery, and visitors are encouraged to pick up a mic and sing along to the tunes Talawe has selected. The memories are her own, after all, but the way they are presented invites visitors to consider their own, and how they shape one’s sense of self.

View, in pictures, Salote Tawale’s immersive exploration of personal histories.

Salote Tawale: I remember you
Carriageworks
17 November—28 January 2024