Tahlia Palmer: occupation studies

“occupation studies” is an installation of audio-visual works made by Tahlia Palmer during the first Creative in Residence Program at the Victorian Archives Centre.

Palmer is an interdisciplinary artist of Murri and European descent, living in Narrm / Melbourne, who explores history, identity and perception. She works to interrogate the impact of colonisation on people and Country, and to unpack and heal inter-generational trauma in her own family. 

In February, Palmer was selected as the first Creative in Residence at Victoria's State Archives. Following a competitive judging process of more than 70 applications from artists, musicians and writers across the state, our independent judging panel were impressed with Palmer’s demonstrated ability to navigate archival materials with sensitivity and appreciation for the power of public records in storytelling. 

Over the past three months she has been using this residency to research into Public Record Office Victoria's land and water management records, learning "glimmers of intimate details of the bureaucratic processes which enabled bending and breaking of Country according to biopolitical racism and profit driven directives." These explorations have resulted in a series of hypnotic video works that "invite audiences to reflect on their relationship with history, Country, and the socio-economic disparity on this continent."

Dates: 20 June – 13 July 2024

Weekdays: 9am – 5pm

Saturday Openings: 29 June 2024 + 13 July 2024, 10am – 4:30pm

Victorian Archives Centre, 99 Shiel Street, North Melbourne