All My Friends
 

             JAHKARLI FELICITAS ROMANIS


Photo by Jason Hamilton












Jahkarli 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 - Present

Honours (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), Melbourne


Exhibitions (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: Finalist

2023

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA): Finalist 

2019

Baillot and Balfour Endowment: Winner 

Robyn 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, Melbourne 


Conferences/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-yarn

NITV 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




I respectfully acknowledge the ongoing Custodians of the lands and waterways where I work, live and travel. I extend my deep respect and gratitude to Elders, past and present. My work would not be possible without the many who have come before me, those who paved the way for future generations.
Sovreignty has never been ceded. Always was and always will be.

[-o-]





All images Copyright © 2013 — 2024, Jahkarli Romanis. All rights reserved.