Photo: Rosina Possingham
Photo: Jamal Twycross-Smith
BIOGRAPHY
Sarra Tzijan is an Indian-Australian artist, originally from Naarm/Melbourne, now based on Kaurna Country in Port Willunga.
During early education Tzijan focused on drawing and illustration. In 2014 she completed a degree in Communication Design (RMIT), followed by an Advanced Diploma of Object and Jewellery Design (Melbourne Polytechnic) in 2016.
In 2018 she was selected to undertake an associateship at JamFactory in the metal studio where she continued on as a tenant until 2022. It was during this time Tzijan began working with Aboriginal Art Centres, running workshops and providing support for studio management. She has continued to grow these relationships, particularly with Ernabella Arts where she was employed as studio manager.
Tzijan has been exhibiting since 2013, across diverse mediums. She has participated in numerous group shows, and was a finalist in four of them. She’s had three solo exhibitions. Her practice has been financially supported by local, state and federal funding organisations.
PRACTICE
Working across sculpture, adornment and collaborative projects, my work embodies the human, material, and immaterial relationships that shape my life.
Through making I investigate Otherness, Belonging and Cultural Continuity. Adornment is a reoccurring subject, exploring the social life of objects and how they become carriers of knowledge, holding both personal and collective narratives.
My work is informed by lived experience as an Indian-Australian woman navigating multiple cultural perspectives within a colonial context. My heritage and the time spent working alongside Aboriginal communities have shaped a practice grounded in relationship, where making is inseparable from place, family and community.
I often develop work through conversation and immersive engagement with specific sites and contexts. This results in a naturally collaborative and experimental approach to making, where materials change in service of a larger enquiry. My formal training is in metalwork and has evolved to include a wide range of materials and processes that focus on tactile methods like weaving, casting and sculpting.
Across all aspects of my practice, I seek to strengthen the relationships that sustain cultural knowledge, community, and connection to place.
CONTACT
Phone: +61 457 119 597
Email: sarra@tzijan.com.au
Instagram: @sarra_tzijan
CV
Education / Training
2023 Pitjantjantjara/Yankunytjatjara Language and Culture Summer School, UniSA, Adelaide
2018 - 2019 Associate Program (Jewellery and Metal), JamFactory, Adelaide
2014 - 2016 Advanced Diploma of Jewellery & Object Design, Melbourne Polytechnic, Melbourne
2013 Introduction to Jewellery, Melbourne Polytechnic, Melbourne 2013
2009 - 2012 Bachelor of Design (Communication Design), RMIT, Melbourne Secondary School, CGSC, Melbourne
Exhibitions (solo)
2022 Ghar Aana: Coming Home, Stanley Street Gallery, Sydney
2022 Village Vessels, JamFactory Craft & Design Centre, Adelaide
2019 Primal Casting (Radiant Pavilion), Mr Kitly, Melbourne
Exhibitions (selected group)
2024 Mining Memory, Post Office Projects, Adelaide
2023 Gold, JamFactory, Adelaide
2023 Contemporary Wearables, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Toowoomba
2022 Home:made, Craft ACT, Canberra
2022 Profile FINALIST, (Contemporary Jewellery & Object Award), Australian Design Centre, Sydney
2022 From Little Things (Radiant Pavilion), Brunswick St Gallery, Melbourne
2022 Gosford Art Prize FINALIST, Gosford Regional Gallery, Gosford
2021 Contemporary Wearables FINALIST, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Toowoomba
2021 Small Connections, Craft ACT, Canberra
2021 Ceramix, Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Sydney
2020 New Taipei City International Metal Crafts Competition FINALIST, New Taipei,Taiwan
2018 Crossing Borders, Sarah Rothe (SALA), Adelaide
2017 The Boss (Radiant Pavilion), Melbourne Polytechnic, Melbourne
2017 Victorian Craft Awards FINALIST, Sofitel, Melbourne
2015 Untitled group show, Spacespace Gallery, Tokyo
2015 Supergraph, Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Melbourne
2014 Render, Brunswick St Gallery, Melbourne
2014 Scenes on the Yarra, Warrandyte River, Victoria
2013 City of Yarra ‘Unearthed’ FINALIST, Collingwood Gallery, Melbourne
Grants / Awards
2022 Biennale Delegates Program, Australia Council for the Arts
2021 Collaborative Mentorship, Franchesca Cubillo, NAVA
2021 Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups,Australia Council for the Arts
2020 Projects - Individuals and Groups, Arts SA
2020 Catapult Mentorship Grant, Christian Hall, Guildhouse
2017 Individual Development Grant, Australia Council for the Arts
2016 Overall Best Student Award, Melbourne Polytechnic
2015 Study Grant, Melbourne Polytechnic
Employment
2020 - 2021 Studio Manager, Ernabella Arts, Pukatja
2022 Art Centre Manager, Iwiri Aboriginal Corporation, Adelaide
2022 Gallery assistant (temp), Walkatjara Arts, Uluru
2021 Studio manager (tempo), Bula’Bula Arts, Ramingining
2019 ACH jewellery course, JamFactory, Adelaide
2019 Ceramic jewellery workshop, Ernabella Arts, Pukatja
2018 - 2019 Introduction to jewellery course, JamFactory
Workshops / Residencies
2022 Central Craft residency, Alice Springs
2021 Tom Reeves; mould making workshop, Adelaide
2019 Julie Blyfield; mentoring, Adelaide
2019 Elliat Rich workshop, Adelaide
2019 Dhokra (Indian lost wax casting) residency, Panchgani
2018 Tom Skeehan; design development workshop, Adelaide
2018 Lyndsey Rice; paper work installation workshop, Adelaide
2018 Junko Mori; metalwork masterclass, Adelaide