Arts Events Leisure
28/12/2023
Flinders Fringe to exhibit prominent emerging artist
by Mornington Peninsula Magazine

Photos: Noa Smith Fletcher.

Australian-Colombian artist Joshua Searle is an emerging talent from the Mornington Peninsula. A Sulman Prize finalist, Joshua has held seven solo exhibitions in just two and a half years, garnering him an impressive reputation in the art world. His work explores socio-cultural issues and the complexities of diasporic identity and existence.

Joshua will be featured as part of Flinders Fringe Festival 2024, showcasing two exhibitions: Stolen Gold at Flinders Hotel in conjunction with Stolen Gold in Monochrome at Cook St Collective. Curated by Emily McCulloch Childs, it examines pre-Columbian artefacts held in museum collections as a means to further understand his own diasporic identity. For the artist, ‘stolen gold’ refers to both the literal and metaphoric gold taken by colonisation.

Joshua’s Wall of Gold workshop will be a unique community project that brings together art, spray paint, and cultural connection. Participants will create a captivating street art piece in Flinders Village using a stencil image inspired by a Colombian gold mask currently housed in the British Museum.

Finally, you will be invited to an artist brunch at Flinders Hotel with Joshua in conversation with Everywhen Art director Emily McCulloch Childs and Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery director Danny Lacy.  The brunch will include delicious food inspired by Joshua’s Colombian heritage.

Supported by Mornington Peninsula Shire, the highly anticipated return of the Flinders Fringe Festival will light up the coastal village of Flinders from February 23-25. More than 30 events across 12 venues in Flinders Village are listed on www.flindersfringe.com.au

NOA SMITH FLETCHER