HIROMI HOTEL: RAINBOW
11 March – 15 April 2023
Lismore Regional Gallery – pop-up space
46 Magellan Street, Lismore
Exhibition opening 11am, 11 March
Auslan interpretation until 1pm and activities until 3pm.
Hiromi Hotel: Rainbow is a sensory installation that takes inspiration from the rainbow, drawing on colours and symbology of this natural wonder (hope, equality, new beginnings). The rainbow is a recurring theme in the artist’s work, however, it has particular significance for Lismore. Lismore is in the ‘rainbow region,’ and its ever-changing weather means residents enjoy the regular privilege of seeing these beautiful arches of colour. The significance of the rainbow to Lismore is so pertinent that the Auslan sign for Lismore is rainbow, expressed through an upward, arching motion of the hand. Importantly, the rainbow is a symbol for the LGBTIQA+ community, a key part of Lismore’s cultural identity.
The work is by Hiromi Tango in collaboration with the Lismore community and other communities Tango has worked with, including the Townsville and Wollongong communities. Hiromi Hotel was first realised in 2009, as community engagement project where everyone is welcome. It has been created in many spaces and iterations since, offering a place for visitors to rest, unpack their thoughts and feelings, and perhaps lighten their spirits.
One of the central works in the exhibition is a rainbow garden. Applying Tango’s playful and effective techniques, the audience can contribute to this collaborative piece, tucking in flowers, foliage, a spectrum of colours, and twisting abstract forms created from fabric and yarn. The garden speaks to ecologies in nature and in community, valuing growth, relationships and balance.
People viewing Hiromi Hotel: Rainbow can experience it as they would any exhibition, or they can get actively involved. Tango has turned much attention to the value of art, so it is inclusive and engages the body and mind. This gentle engagement and the propensity of her artistic processes to encourage movement, and uncomplicated human interaction, have known therapeutic benefits. Her work explores how colour, playful spaces, and movement influence mood.
Hiromi Hotel: Rainbow invites you to spend slow time in a nurturing environment and contribute to this collaborative creative project.
Biography
Hiromi Tango is a revered contemporary artist based at Tweed Heads. Tango is dedicated to generating healing conversations through arts engagement. Reacting to an age in which the globalisation and virtualisation of communication are eclipsing human relationships, her practice is often collaborative. Tango’s immersive installations comprise vibrant sculptural accumulations of second-hand objects, materials, and stories that capture and create feelings, interactions, and healing connections. Her work has been exhibited at major national art museums and regional galleries across Australia and at international exhibitions in the United States, Belgium, Dubai, and Asia Pacific.
This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW, Recovery Grants for NSW Creatives. Lismore Regional Gallery is a creative initiative of Lismore City Council, and the pop-up space has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its art funding and advisory body.
