Habitat: ShrewD Collective

Habitat by ShrewD Collective was part of the Collective Polyphony Festival, founded upon the central idea of community and peacebuilding. Habitat was presented at Gertrude Glasshouse from 8 September – 7 October 2023.

The collective comprised artists Chris Fontana, Tracey Lamb, Amanda Laming, Nina Sanadze and Mimmalisa Trifilò.

Habitat began with an exploration of the storied 'Tower of Babel' concept, in which language is attributed symbolically as the source of division among the world’s people. ShrewD Collective decided to engage with a process that embodied the universal challenges of communication and mutual understanding.

Bringing together five very diverse visual languages, the artists collaborated to construct new architectural elements using words and conversations, clay, steel, paper, wood, stone, string, fabric, and plants. Habitat stood as an alternative to the Babel Tower; a porous and visually rich space that immerses viewers who could spend time exploring, reading, thinking, sitting, or gathering within.

Habitat served a dual purpose—it reflected and critiqued the state of the world, while offering hope and ideas for a better society. In this envisioned world, dialogue, communication, and understanding are assumed, challenging the obstacles presented within the Tower of Babel narrative.

The project came about as Nina Sanadze opened the exhibition opportunity to the ShrewD Collective, shedding light on their artistic practice and methodologies of fostering mutual support, community cohesion, and collaboration. Staying true to Sanadze's large-scale, peace-building social practice projects, the artist further expanded this concept into the Collective Polyphony Festival.