Conflated #1: Zoë Bastin on conflation, bodies and transformative politics

“The ideas that we attribute to bodies are arbitrary and often accepted but don’t really exist,” says Zoë Bastin in our latest podcast series, Conflated. “Bodies are very malleable substances that can become whatever they want.”

Conflated is a short series centred on the ideas of inflation and conflation, linking with a touring exhibition aptly titled, Conflated. Whether metaphorical or material, ideas of inflation and deflation can be taken in creative, environmental, and political ways. The 11 contemporary artists in Conflated show this in myriad forms—which Bastin speaks to.

Bastin is one of the co-curators and exhibiting artists in Conflated. While known for her dance and choreography practice, Bastin also works across sculpture, video, radio and printmaking.

Bastin talks about the ideas behind Conflated—both as an exhibition and a concept—as well as how she began dancing at an incredibly young age, how dance can be a gendered form, and what transformative possibilities Bastin looks to beyond this. We also talk about queer politics, shame, how bodies are objectified in art and life, and Bastin’s advice to younger artists.

With a current showing at ANU School of Art and Design Gallery, NETS Victoria are touring Conflated nationally throughout 2022 and 2023:

ANU School of Art and Design Gallery
(Canberra ACT)
29 September—4 November

Logan Art Gallery
(Logan QLD)
29 July 2023—3 September 2023

Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery
(Swan Hill VIC)
1 October 2023—3 December 2023

This series is kindly sponsored by NETS Victoria who are nationally touring Conflated, assisted by assisted by the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia program and the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria. 

Produced and presented by Tiarney Miekus, engineering by Patrick Telfer, and music by Mino Peric.

Episode source