Photo by Jason HamiltonJahkarli Felicitas Romanis is a proud Pitta Pitta woman and emerging artist based on Kulin Land.
After completing an Honours in Photography degree at RMIT in 2020, she commenced a PhD at Monash University in 2021 through the Wominjeka Djeembana Indigenous Research Lab.
Jahkarli’s practice aims to subvert and disrupt colonial ways of thinking and image making. She utilises her research and artwork as tools for investigating biases encoded within imaging technologies. Jahkarli’s work heavily reflects on her family stories, oral histories and archives.
Education:
PhD (Fine Art), Wominjeka Djeembana Indigenous Research Lab, Monash University | Jul 2021 - PresentHonours (Photography), RMIT University | 2020
Bachelor of Arts (Photography), RMIT University | 2017 - 2019
Exhibitions (Solo Shows):
2024
‘(Dis)connected to Country’ Hillvale Gallery, as part of PHOTO2024, Melbourne 2023
‘(Dis)connected to Country’ curated by Angela Connor, The Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh), MelbourneExhibitions (Select Group Shows):
2023
40th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (Telstra NATSIAA)‘YARN’ (curator), Craft Victoria, Melbourne
2022
‘INTERVALS’ curated by João Marco Deloie, Platform Arts, Geelong‘Into the Everywhen’ curated by Eden Fiske and Shahn Stewart, Craft Victoria, Melbourne
‘Barreeng Yirramboi’ (artist and co-curated with Wominjeka Djeembana Indigenous Research Lab) MADA Gallery, Monash University Melbourne
‘Aeon Resurrection,’ curated by Jake Treacy, Incinerator Gallery, Moonee Ponds
‘New Photographers’ PHOTO2022 International Photography Festival, James Makin Gallery, Collingwood
‘Still Here, Now’ (artist and co-curated with Tarryn Love and Kelsey Love), Platform Arts, Geelong
2020
Ars Electronica International Arts and Technology Festival, Web XR Newcastle Garden, curated by Rewa Wright - https://ars.electronica.art/keplersgardens/en/ecosystem-reboot/‘Summer Projects VII’ curated by Dylan Foley, Boom Gallery Geelong
2019
‘Sightings and Listenings’ graduate exhibition, RMIT University Awards:
2024
Incinerator Gallery Art Award, Art for Social Change: Finalist2023
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA): Finalist2019
Baillot and Balfour Endowment: WinnerRobyn Beeche Award: Finalist
Work Experience:
Board Member, Melbourne Art Library | 2024 - Present
Artist Committee Member, West Space Gallery | 2023 - Present
Research Assistant, Monash University, Australian Research Council funded project ‘Protocols for Indigenous-led creative practice’ | 2022 - Present
Marrawuddi Arts and Culture Volunteer, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair | Aug 2022
Research Assistant, Monash University, Wominjeka Djeembana Research Lab | 2021 - 2022
Producer, Ngarnga-dha (hearing/listening), Research Symposium, Monash University | 2021
Sessional Lecturer, Monash University | 2021
Research Assistant, Monash University, ‘Tjanabi’ RISING Festival | 2021
Workshop facilitator, SIGNAL X This Mob X Aretha Brown | 2021
First Nations Emerging Curator, Geelong Gallery | 2021
Writing:
Google Earth is an illusion: how I am using art to explore the problematic nature of western maps and the myth of ‘terra nullius,’ The Conversation, | Oct 2022. https://theconversation.com/google-earth-is-an-illusion-how-i-am-using-art-to-explore-the-problematic-nature-of-western-maps-and-the-myth-of-terra-nullius-187921
Select Artist Talks/Guest Lectures:
2024
‘(Dis)connected to Country’ In-conversation with Dr Peta Clancy, Hillvale Gallery‘Future River’ In-conversation with Dr Peta Clancy, Dr Julie Gough, Jodie Haines and Dr Kimba Thompson, Counihan Gallery
2023
MTalks ‘The Reciprocity Factor: Photography, Country and Relationality’ In-conversation with Dr Kirsten Lyttle, Dr Peta Clancy and Professor Melissa Miles, MPavillion
‘UNTOLD’ Darwin, In-conversation with Tony Albert, Warraba Weatherall and Troy Casey, curated by Agency Projects
‘Art Forum Talks’, Victorian College of the Arts
2022
‘Radical Hospitality: Platforming Community’ Panelist with Tarryn Love, Norm Sheehan and Lowell Hunter, Next Wave
‘Making the Visible Invisible’ in-conversation with Professor Mark Andrejevic and Mishka Henner, Form X Content PHOTO2022, - https://www.monash.edu/muma/public-programs/current/current/form-x-content/semester-1/making-the-visible-invisible
Residencies:
2024
PARADISE AIR, Matsudo Japan 2022
Melbourne Art Library, MelbourneConferences/symposiums:
2022
‘Agency, Country and Place: encounters with photography’ The Art Association of Australia and New Zealand (AAANZ) Conference
‘Barreeng Yirramboi’, Research Symposium and Exhibition, Monash Art Design and Architecture Faculty, Monash Univeristy
‘Conversations with...Extractivism Symposium’, Monash Art Design and Architecture Faculty, Monash University
2021
‘Ngarnga-dha (hearing/listening)’, Research Symposium, Monash University
Select Press and Media:
2024
ArtsHub Article, written by Christy Tan: https://www.artshub.com.au/news/features/disconnected-to-country-mapping-the-intersections-of-place-identity-and-family-2699519/2023
Triple R Radio Interview with Vanessa Morris: https://www.rrr.org.au/on-demand/segments/banksia-jahkarli-felicitas-romanis-discusses-exhibition-yarnNITV Radio Interview, NATSIAA’s: https://www.sbs.com.au/language/nitv-radio/en/podcast-episode/dear-dolly-with-love-2023-reveals-the-bittersweet-power-of-colonial-archives-for-first-nations-people/in3hxg4rg
2022
‘Monash University students impress at PHOTO 2022 New Photographers exhibition’ Monash Art Design and Architecture, Monash University: https://www.monash.edu/mada/news/2022/monash-university-students-impress-at-photo-2022-new-photographers-exhibition‘PHOTO 2022: what it means being human’ RMIT: https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2022/may/photo-2022-rmit-alumni
‘New Photographers’ PHOTO2022 International Photography Festival: https://photo.org.au/channel/qa-jahkarli-romanis
2021
‘New photography from Melbourne and beyond’ Magnum: https://www.magnumphotos.com/arts-culture/new-photography-melbourne-beyond/Contact: jucromanis@gmail.com