Streitishvarf, Austurland

the West Wall Gallery, April 18, 2011

“In our practice we construct situations that draw out the tacit and shifting dynamics between ourselves as collaborators, and others. Often absurd or ironic, our performance and video work has aimed to unsettle distinctions between authenticity and pretence, experience and performance, the cliché and the prosaic. Informed by our current residency with Skaftfell, our new body of work takes a humorous approach to the common conceptions of place perpetuated by cinema, advertising, word of mouth, etc. This media produces a cursory level of understanding that we seek to interrogate through performative action.”

Kate Woodcroft & Catherine Sagin
Artists in residence at the Iron House residency during March – May 2011.

Formed in 2008, Catherine Sagin is the collaborative practice of Kate Woodcroft and Catherine Sagin. This naming is the result of a work of a live ten-minute fencing duel undertaken in 2010. The winner of the duel secured naming rights of the collaboration for the period of one year. Catherine won the bout 10-8.

Based in Brisbane, Australia, Kate and Catherine have been collaborating since 2008. Both are currently studying a Masters degree in Fine Arts at Queensland University of Technology. In 2010 they were selected to take part in Fresh Cut at the IMA, an exhibition of the most promising emerging artists from Queensland. They have also exhibited at Art space Visual Art Centre, Sydney; Next Wave Festival, Melbourne and recently held a solo exhibition at the Museum of Brisbane. They are co-founders of No Frills* Artist Run Initiative and were in residence at Art space Sydney before travelling to Iceland.