In 2024, Karma Barnes was invited to present a specially produced large-scale iteration of her CO-Lapses installation at the Arte Laguna Prize Finalist Exhibition at Arsenale Nord in Venice, from 16 November to 8 December.
This opportunity enabled her to showcase her work internationally while building connections with curators and gallerists. Originally developed for the Lismore and Grafton Regional Galleries, CO-Lapses merges regional experiences and voices responding to climate change, bringing perspectives from Regional NSW to a global audience. The installation comprises 10 biomimicry-inspired sculptural forms suspended in Arsenale Nord, each vessel holding fine sand mixed with pigments. Gradually released onto the floor, the sand creates a shifting geological terrain in a durational process.
This exhibition marks a significant turning point in Barnes’s career as she establishes her presence both in Australia and internationally. In addition, Barnes has been invited to attend the UNIDEE Residency Program at Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto. Through the residency, Barnes will expand her practice to further engage with these themes, aligning with Cittadellarte’s mission to inspire societal change through the arts. This experience will allow her to integrate international perspectives on climate adaptation and collective transformation in the face of adversity.
CO-Lapses was included in the Arte Laguna Prize Finalist Exhibition with the support of the Regional Arts Fund: Quick Response Grants, which assist with immediate needs that arise unexpectedly.
Images: Karma Barnes, ‘CO-Lapses’, 2023. 3D Printed Components and Earth Pigments gathered on Bundjalung Country, Hand Dyed and Gathered Italian Sand. Photo by Karma Barnes.
