Joe Ernsten

Born New Zealand
Bachelor of Arts, Fine Arts (Hons)
Graduation show: 2007

Artwork in Space YZ

Comforter, 1994-97
Single channel video with sound
5:23 mins

Comforter was my introduction to video making. I was exploring the use of the camera by filming everyday scenes and not following the manual. I challenged myself to make a narrative of sorts through editing and collaging the disparate elements. My work at art school at UWS (and even now) played with the disconnect between actual and factual, perceptions and realities and theory and practice.

In 1997, Comforter was included in Subtitle – an exhibition of graduating student work at now defunct artist-run initiative, Side-On Gallery in Annandale, curated by Daniel Mudie Cunningham.

I loved being an art student – we were encouraged to run wild, explore and set our own rules in many ways. At the time I modified my name from ‘Jo’ to ‘Joe’ to suggest gender ambiguity. With studio practice there was little intervention from tutors, apart from assessment time, so we all explored together, encouraged, challenged, critiqued and argued with each other in an incredibly open way. I really valued the approach to discovery – anything was possible as long as you pushed further than ‘playing safe’. As I writes this, I realise how much that stance continued to influence my artmaking and also my teaching practice.

After leaving university, I was employed for 20 years at Western Sydney TAFE as a teacher and continued to exhibit both in Australia and overseas. I often work in multiples or installations using a range of media, whatever is dependent on the project.

Recently, I have moved to New Zealand and essentially, I am starting my art career from scratch in terms of audience and network. I feel like that student again.

For more information, visit Joe Ernsten’s website.