Alison Bennett

Artist Statement

… “Having lived my entire life with significant impairments, the challenges faced with being ‘othered’ in society are reflected throughout my work. I write predominantly around the body, however, my work also focuses on the paradoxes of human nature.

The main body of my work offers a glimpse into the cognitive processes behind recognition, and acceptance of disability in self, and the societal desire to “fix” the broken body.

I explore the power of words, beyond the traditional poetry formats. My current projects utilise a variety of multimedia, including digital poems, experimental film, installation, and zines.

Currently, I am immersed in collaboration with Sound Artist/Designer 5000AD, to form the live sound art performance collective, ‘State Variable.’ Together we explore personal detachment to the physical body, and articulate injury and trauma through metaphor, soundscape, and visual performance”…

— I exist to provoke response —

Biography

— I exist to provoke response —

Alison is a Performance Poet/Multimedia Artist and Writer based in Adelaide, SA. The South Australian Poetry Slam Champion 2016, Alison represented South Australia at the Sydney Opera House for the National Poetry Slam Final in 2016, is and a twice over State Poetry Slam Finalist, (both 2016 and 2017).

Since then, she has featured for a variety of literary bodies, including Paroxysm Press, Draw Your (S)words, The Hearth Collective, SA Writers Centre, Coriole winery, Adelaide University Literary Union, Spoken Word SA, and Adelaide College of The Arts.

Various collaborative projects she has been involved with include :

• Youth mental health poetry workshops, for ‘Headspace’, run by Rebekah Clarkson.
• Forthcoming documentary, chronicling the history of the local spoken word/performing poetry scene, by Adelaide-based filmmaker, Joseph Cole.
• ‘Raining Poetry in Adelaide’ street art installation project, where her work was spray-painted in invisible ink on the streets of Adelaide. (Made possible by the University of Adelaide, and JM Coetzee Centre for Creative Practice.)

Alison has a forthcoming publication in LaTrobe University’s gender, sexuality, and diversity studies journal,‘Writing from below,’ and a book of poems currently in the process of publication with Paroxysm Press.

Under the moniker, Zen.Paradoxx, Alison is one half of experimental art performance duo, ‘State Variable,’ in collaboration with sound artist/designer, 5000AD.

She creates digital micropoetry on Instagram and Facebook at the links below.

Instagram:
http://www.instagram.com/zen.paradoxx/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/alisonbennettperformancepoet/