Helen Johnson

Helen Johnson is joined in conversation with Richard Bell, Megan Cope and Joan Ross to talk about the complexities of addressing colonialism in art, and to reflect on the different perspectives and strategies used by artists concerned with questions of cultural attitudes and national identity.

Juliette Desorgues, Independent curator, will moderate the conversation using Warm Ties, Johnson's new commission with Artspace and the ICA, London as a prompt for conversation.

Megan Cope works with painting, video, sculptural installation and site-specific commissions. A Quandamooka woman from North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, her work explores the intricate relationship between environment, geography and identity. 

Richard Bell (b. 1953) lives and works in Brisbane, Australia. He works across a variety of media including painting, installation, performance and video. One of Australia’s most significant artists, Bell’s work explores the complex artistic and political problems of Western, colonial and Indigenous art production. 

Joan Ross Born 1961, Glasgow, Scotland. Lives and works Sydney. Joan Ross works across a range of mediums including drawing, painting, installation, photography, sculpture and video. Her bold and experimental practice investigates the legacy of colonialism in Australia, particularly in regard to its effect on Indigenous Australians.