Benjamin Sebastian
VSSL co-director & curator, studio artist & exhibited artist
Detail of Sebastian’s work as part of ‘Alicia Radage + Benjamin Sebastian’ at VSSL. 2023
“[Sebastian's] practice might be imagined as a constellation of mirrors; reflecting aspects of the body, times, spaces & relationships they (have) inhabit(ed), or...”
Benjamin Sebastian (b. Cairns*, Queensland, Australia 1980) is a trans-disciplinary artist-curator based in London, whose practice spans curating, installation, writing, image making, sculpture, moving image, new media and performance.
They received their BA (Hons) Fine Art (1st Class) from the University of Lincoln (UK) and MA Curating Art & Public Programmes from Whitechapel Gallery/London Southbank University. Continued research interests include; Artificial Intelligence, Occult Practices, Queer Ecologies, Decolonialism, Transhumanism and Contemporary Performance & Visual Art.
Their practice might be imagined as a constellation of mirrors; reflecting aspects of the body, times, spaces & relationships they (have) inhabit(ed) - or - as world-making experiments; manifested through processes of bricolage and queerness - navigated by emotive, erotic and esoteric methodologies. Sebastian understands their artistic work as an anarcho-queer technology in the aid of queer, decolonial & transhumanist endeavour - driven by their neuro-divergent and non-binary embodiment.
Dead (from series Dead, Queer, Sex, Fag) 1 of 4 variants - 2012They are a frequent collaborator of entities, individuals and institutions - as well as a champion of the artist-led sector, having founded both ]performance s p a c e [ and VSSL Studio. Sebastian and their affiliated projects have recieved funding from Arts Council England, British Council, Creative Folkestone, Kent County Council, Inspire Lewisham, Roger De Haan Charitable Trust as well as various other charities and local authorities - with their artworks held in public and private collections. For sales please contact qap.digital and/or info@vssl-studio.org. For commissions and invitations please contact the artist directly.
‘Sigil VII - Shed (Python/Adder/Entity III)’ from ‘Undoing Dee’s Work Series’ (1 of 7 variants) - giclée print on calico, calico, gold leaf, cotton thread - H:162cm x W:62cm unframed - 2024
‘Engage’ from ‘Flag Series’ (1 0f 7 variants) - calico, cotton thread, giclée print on calico, reconstituted nylon flag - H:35cm x W:22cm unframed - 2024
*The Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, Djabugay and Yirrganydji peoples are the traditional custodians of Cairns and surrounding district. Gimuy is the traditional place name for the area Cairns City now occupies. Sebastian wishes to pay respect to the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, Djabugay and Yirrganydji Elders - past, present and emerging - and extend that respect to all Indigenous Australians.
www.benjamin-sebastian.com
@benjaminsebastian