TASTE & DESIRE; THE POWER OF THE BEAUTIFUL EXHIBITION
The Zest festival started in 2012 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the sinking of the Dutch
East India Company merchant ship the Zuytdorp, which met its demise at the foot of the treacherous
cliffs north of Kalbarri.
The festival is a community cultural event exploring our connections to countries connected by the
Dutch East India Company. This year will focus on the human desire of new and beautiful things.
Here we will explore the role of tea ceremonies, origami arts, bonsai, and the crafting of fine objects
and how the history of Dutch trade of these objects influenced the aesthetics and desires of Europe,
tying in with this year’s theme Taste and Desire: The Power of the Beautiful.
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
This exhibition will explore the emotional power of beauty and objects and work with community
members to explore their own emotions around this subject. It will be influenced by the history and
culture of China and Japan in the 17th & 18th centuries.
We are asking you to participate in this community art project and share your objects, stories and
emotions. These will form part of this year’s exhibition.
In Chinese history and culture, possession of one or more ancient dings (bronze engraved castings) is
often associated with power and dominion over the land. Therefore, the ding is often used as an
implicit symbolism for power. The term "inquiring of the ding" is often used interchangeably with
the quest for power. We are using the concept of the "ding" in this exhibition to ask you to think
about "valued vessels" in your life. What vessel in your home symbolises powerful emotions for you?
Is it your coffee cup or the humble tea cup? Is it the box that contains your love letters and children’s
hair locks hidden away? Is it your grandfather’s old tobacco tin containing his war medals or that
casserole dish that has served meals to your family for generations? Is it your first car which brings
you freedom or your iPhone that is the vessel that holds all your social connections? These "vessels"
will form part of the exhibition.
Alternatively, you may just have an object that you feel is exceptionally beautiful - we want to know
why and what emotions it evokes. Or perhaps you have beautiful objects that are Made in China or
Made in Japan - we are interested in these too.
Selected objects will be professionally curated alongside projections of Asian artefacts. All objects
will be accompanied by their story.
Selected objects/stories from the Taste & Desire; the Power of the Beautiful exhibition will be
displayed on the Zest Festival website www.zestfest.com.au
Venue: Kalbarri District High School, Kalbarri Western Australia
Exhibition dates: 19thto 20th September 2015
Selection process:
Expressions of Interest will be assessed by a panel representing the Kalbarri Development Association
Inc. and the ARC Centre for the History of Emotions.
All participants will be notified by August 21st 2015.
Selected participants’ objects will be collected and the curators will work with you from August to
develop your story and the placement/installation requirements for the exhibition.
Some objects maybe too valuable or fragile to be physically part of the exhibition, however, can be
represented using digital images/photographs.
Participants are responsible for:


Transport of the object/s to and from the exhibition
Insurance of object/s
An image or detailed description of the object must be accompanied by a statement (max 500
words) that outlines your choice of object/story, explaining your feelings of how it connects you to
the theme ‘the power of the beautiful’. If you need help on this please contact us. Don’t be shy - we
want to encourage and include as many people’s objects as we can, big or small.
A completed and signed expression of interest and permissions form (see below) must be attached.
Completion of this form does not guarantee a place in the exhibition. You will be contacted following
receipt of your Expression of Interest to discuss your submission if you are shortlisted. Some
shortlisted participants may be asked to provide additional information if required. All submissions
will be considered by the panel and the decision is final, no further correspondence will be entered
into.
You may submit more than one object but need to complete an expression of interest form for each.
However, if you have multiple objects that are connected to one story then one signed form is
required.
Expressions of Interest due on August 14th 2015
Please mail to:
Or email:
Exhibition Expression of Interest
Clearly stating ‘Taste & Desire, the power of the beautiful’ EOI in
the subject title
Kalbarri Development Association
rebecca-millar@bigpond.com
PO Box 6, Kalbarri WA 6536
ZEST FESTIVAL TASTE & DESIRE; THE POWER OF THE BEAUTIFUL EXHIBITION
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST APPLICATION AND PERMISSIONS FORM
Participant information
Name
Address
Phone
Mobile
Email
Object information
Please circle/highlight:
Object of Beauty/Power
Object Made in China
Object Made in Japan
Object name:
Object/s description:
Dimensions of object/s
Story about the object:
Description of how the object/story is related to the theme.
Placement/environmental requirements of object (if applicable):
I give the Kalbarri Development Association and the ARC Centre of Excellence for the History
of Emotions permission to use submitted images, quotes from stories for marketing and
promotional purposes for the Taste & Desire; the Power of the Beautiful Exhibition.
Name:
Signature:
Date:
Please attach
1. Brief description of who you are
2. All participants must supply photograph/s/digital image of the object/s. Please label
your photograph/s clearly and include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you
require your photograph/s to be returned.
DO NOT SEND THE OBJECT/S