Polytoxic & Chantal Fraser

Polytoxic is based in Brisbane, Australia, and creates work inspired by the traditions of the Pacific, the guts of physical performance and the crimes of pop culture.

Incorporating dance-theatre, physical cabaret and visual design, the company’s ethos is to create entertaining, robust work with a political, contemporary and satirical bite.

Since 2000, Polytoxic’s work has taken them from traditional huts to beachside lagoons, glitzy fashion parades to dusty big-tops, and independent seasons to major festivals. Polytoxic’s Teuila Postcards played to packed houses throughout Australia, including Sydney Opera House, Artshouse Melbourne, Ten Days on the Island Tasmania, Come Out Festival Adelaide, Brisbane Powerhouse and QPAC; as well as internationally at Wan Smolbag International Arts festival Vanuatu, and Planet IndigenUs Festival, Canada.

Polytoxic are also strong advocates for multicultural contemporary performance practice and have participated as speakers on this topic at numerous national and international forums.

Polytoxic is a collective of renowned independent artists and is driven by Co-Director, choreographer and designer Lisa Fa’alafi (Hot Brown Honey Burlesque, Phluxus2); Co-Director, producer and performance-maker Leah Shelton (The Good Room, The Brides of Frank); and Co-Director, choreographer, and director Fez Faanana (Briefs, QTC Design for Living).

Chantal Fraser

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Chantal Fraser is a Brisbane based multi-media artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) from Queensland University of Technology. Fraser has exhibited nationally at various institutions such as QUT Art Museum, University of Queensland Art Museum and Brisbane City Hall (now Museum of Brisbane). Fraser has also been included in exhibitions internationally at institutions such as La Cité internationale des Arts, Paris, Les Brassieres in Belgium and Tjibaou Cultural Centre, New Caledonia.

Framed

Dance company Polytoxic collaborated with visual artist Chantal Fraser to create a live installation, 'framed', in the window of Raw Space Galleries. The work presents an interaction between object and performer to create evolving and constantly moving images within frames. Exploring the idea of framing - objects within the space are framed and re-contextualised by the performers, who are themselves framed within the confines of the window. This positioning creates a sense of the tangibility of the objects presented, highlighting the detail of these objects and engaging one with the process of their creation. Drawing on a range of sources, the work merges aspects of the Pacific islands with references to contemporary cultures and subcultures. Picture frames connoting 'high art' from a western cultural perspective are juxtaposed against visual and movement motifs drawn from the islands. Intricate hand gestures combine with the held stature of european court dance, and costuming created from traditional 'fala' mats become stiff bustled skirts. This juxtaposition is echoed and reinforced through the presentation of objects created by Chantal Fraser, also incorporating a contemporised take on traditional motifs.

video art from Polytoxic and Chantal Fraser.

 

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