Victoria Bell
VICTORIA BELL, MFA
B. 1976 AUCKLAND, AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
PAKEHA
Bell makes soft sculpture derived from forays into drawing and other works.
Her most recent project, "Resisting Africa" was presented at the Temple Gallery, Dunedin from 12 August to 2 September, 2011 and was the conclusion of her Master of Fine Arts degree research undertaken at the Dunedin School of Art at Otago Polytechnic - Te Kura Matatini ki Otago, New Zealand. The project was founded upon a critical reflection of her travel as a tourist in Africa. It explored western consumption of the tropes of Africa as ‘exotic’ and ‘savage’ by examining her discrete set of tourism experiences in Africa within a body of knowledge which engaged with the discourse of post colonialism.
Now based in Dunedin, Bell has exhibited nationally for over a decade. In 2006 she was included in Ann Packer’s award winning publication Stitch; Contemporary New Zealand Textile Artists. In 2005 she received the Olivia Spencer Bower Award which incorporated a year’s residency at the Arts Centre, Christchurch as Visiting Fellow. Bell is currently the Studio Coordinator – Textiles and a Lecturer in Printmaking at the Dunedin School of Art, Otago Polytechnic.
See Staff Research for a more comprehensive Research and Exhibition Profile for Victoria.
Contact: Victoria Bell
(right and below)
Works by Victoria Bell
Peacock Fountain/Design no.38, 2004
Mixed media,
Fountain: 420 cm x 200 cm x 200 cm. Other elements dimensions variable.
Photography: Ross Coombes
Trace (detail), 2002
Felt, Animal hair, wool, textile ink, reclaimed wood, twink, pencil.
Dimensions variable
Photography: Inez Grim
Horseplay, 2007
Textile, wood, metal, leather and woollen picnic rug.
450 mm x 800 mm x 800 mm (approx.) excluding picnic rug.
Photography: Craig McNab
Below, installed views from the 2011 project, “Resisting Africa”, including the textile and antique furniture sculptures, I Dreamed of Africa (Baboon), Heart of Darkness (Zebra), The Sheltering Sky (Flamingo), and Out of Africa (Lioness).