Arteles Catalogue 2023-2020

Back to Basics program / AUGUST 2023
Lou Harris
Australia
About
Lou Harris (b.1996) is an artist, dancer, dj and curator who
currently lives, works and plays on Wurundjeri land, Naarm
(Melbourne), Australia. lou’s practice is spread across
sculpture, sound, writing, photography, installation and
performance. Their embodied, intuitive practice seeks to
accomodate the needs and disires of themselves and those
that encounter their work. lou consistently attempts to open
up generative engagements by exploring their emotional
landscape, queerness and (dis)ability in a way that is nonprescriptive.
Lou graduated as the 2021 dux of the National Art School
in Australia, with a Bachelor of Art (Sculpture). They spend
much of their time engaged in the arts and electronic dance
music communities across the east coast of Australia, and
recently started a subscription newsletter ‘good juju’ where
they share insights into their life experiences, chronic pain
journey and artistic practice. They have exhibited and
performed in both solo and group capacities, locally and
interstate, including Queer Contemporary (Mardi Gras 2022)
and Soft Centre festival (2019).
Movement in stillness
My time at Arteles consisted of deep healing. i read a lot,
wrote a lot, and cried. a lot. there were many times where i
didn’t know if i was crying from pain or gratitude, likely both
or really any number of feeling combinations you could think
of at the same time.
i deepened my practice of being still; so much time spent
staring out my window, napping for hours each afternoon,
introducing meditation into my loose routine. i found space in
the stillness, and this space provided a way for my emotions
to move freely.
the meditation space in the yellow house was a significant
space for me. a lot of emotional processing and physical
healing of old injuries and nervous system memories took
place in that space. i meditated. i conversed. i danced. i cried.
i moved. i was still. on the leo new moon i facilitated a sound
meditation for the residents, weaving together music from
my almost 5-year collection and incorporating the singing
bowls in this process. this also marked the exact halfway
point of the residency.
i was able to go deeper within myself than i had ever had the
ability to before. no phone, no wifi, no real distractions. i am
certain that as i embrace more movement in my life again,
it will be different, thanks to the stillness. and thanks to the
magic of Arteles.