Tamsin Salehian is an artist based in Sydney, Australia. Using installation, drawing and photography Tamsin creates a range of contemporary work.

Threaded Ties

Threaded Ties is a collaborative, site specific installation.
Threaded Ties Artwork

Threaded Ties

Threaded Ties was made for the Willoughby Contemporary Sculpture Prize 2013. Consisting of over two kilometres of thread and tape, it creates an extended field painting in the landscape. The work has a sound element of tape moving and flapping in the wind, a variable chatter, as well as a daily movement of the string sagging and tightening around the trees like a deeply drawn breath from morning to night. The work is a collaboration between Tamsin Salehian & Laine Hogarty. It developed over a number of weeks and can be seen at http://www.threadedties.blogspot.com.au

  • Dimensions: Variable
  • Medium: Fluorescent tape and manufactured thread
  • Year: 2013

Public Art Commissions

Various Public Artworks from 1996-present
Project 02

Public Art

Tamsin Salehian has been involved in a number of permanent public art projects. 2013 included 'Miller' an 8m carved concrete wall work with a cast element and 'Australalis' a 7m cast concrete wall sculpture for Liverpool City Council with Laine Hogarty. These works developed from community involvement and local investigations. Other works include 'Peace' a wall mural for Amnesty International in Canberra, 'Boat Tree' a carved wood and metal work at CERES, Melbourne with Jane Burns, public art workshops and artist in schools programs

  • Various Work
  • Materials: Concrete; wood; various ephemeral
  • Year: 1996-present

House as a Tent

A photographic sculpture of a suburban house
House a a Teent Artwork

House as a Tent

Photographing a house with the shutters closed, the artist was interested in the symbolism of a shuttered house, locked and closed to any new arrival. The cladding of the house was artificial brick and the minimalistic exterior of the house appealed visually.

  • Dimensions: 1x1x1m
  • Materials: Printed Silk, Plastic
  • Year: 2005

Trace

A photographic series of uninhabited houses
Project 04

Trace

A series of silver leafed photographs of empty houses, made in the gap between when one set of residents moved out and before another moved in. This work developed out of taking cast images of spaces, in conjunction with the cast rice paper work of 50 houses and silver leaf 'river'. I was interested in the set of memories which can been seen in the left over marks left in a building.

  • Dimensions:: 60x40cm
  • Materials: Photograph, silver leaf
  • Year: 2001

Six Weeks

Project 05

Six Weeks

Six Weeks is a collaboration between artist Tamsin Salehian, with filmmaker Bronwyn Weingott and Landscape Architect Jessica Salehian. It consisted of three large installations along the edge of Port Phillip Bay and a performance.

  • Dimensions: Variable, across three sites and 8km
  • Materials: Perspex, suitcases, poetry, voice, wool, resin, salt water, steel
  • Year: 2004

Forest Body

Forest Body A study into the nature of pine plantations in Australia.
Project 06

Forest Body

Forest Body was over a year of looking at pine plantations in Australia. The work resulted in text, drawings, sculptures and photographs and two large scale installations. Exploring the connection between working on site and the studio a body of research was made. Interested in the nature of an imposed landscape and it's ecology.

  • Dimensions Variable
  • Materials: Wax, pine needles,text, drawing, photography
  • Year: 2002-2003

About

Tamsin Salehian is a visual artist who has a background in environmental and human ecology. Her installation work is influenced by the history of art, social justice, science and the natural environment. She develops visual, scientific and social investigations into new artworks. She has exhibited in galleries, public spaces and sculpture festivals and has won prizes for her work. Tamsin holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science from the ANU and a Bachelor of Fine Art from the VCA.

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable it is, nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.. .. “No artist is pleased. . . . [There is no] satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.” Martha Graham,
About