Zoe Bastin
https://www.zoebastin.com/
Zoë Bastin (b. 1992) is an artist, choreographer, curator, sometimes writer and self-described rat-bag. As an artist who makes performances, sculptures, videos, photos and runs a radio show she’s fascinated by the porousness of the body, where it starts and ends and how culture inscribes ideas of gender and sexuality onto our physical form. Since childhood she has been fascinated by gender roles in dance class; particularly who’s allowed to do what and why. Her work challenges limitations placed on feminine and femme bodies shifting ideas about gender. Using her own style of creative dance mixed with contemporary performance art Zoë creates works that explore difficult psychological terrain. From the homophobia of her religious childhood to delving into the gender politics of ballet her works are often hard hitting. But from this deep emotional investigation comes the joy of dancing itself. Bastin recently completed her PhD at RMIT University, where she was researching gender by transforming patriarchal hierarchies in bodies and objects. In 2021 she’s been working with a team of six dancers on an immersive performance called That Which Was Once Familiar presented by Dancehouse and Bus Projects for Midsumma Festival and curating an exhibition with Claire Watson called CONFLATED for NETS Victoria. Bastin has previously exhibited and performed at Bus Projects, The Substation, Wyndham City Council, SEVENTH Gallery, MADA Gallery at Monash University, Testing Grounds, School of Art Gallery RMIT University, Tinning St Presents, c3 Gallery and BLINDSIDE.
