About
Esmée Asia Turlej a Queer, Non-Binary artist from Plymouth living in Bristol.
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Their work expands across movement, performance, painting, photography, poetry and tattoo. They are holistic in their approach to life, and therefore, their creative practise.
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They consistently engage with exploring creative methods of healing. They work to be in conversation with hidden aspects of ‘the self’ in the empowering context of creativity, with the intention to clear space for creating a more inspired way of being & living.
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This process is realised in both performative settings & studio practice.
Turlej has shown work in over 30 group exhibitions & performance spaces including;
Jun 2018: REWRITTEN. Ocean Studios, Plymouth
Mar 2019: Electronic Ecosystem. St Paul’s Church: The Crypt, Bristol
May 2019: Spike Island Open Studios. Bristol
Sep 2021: Piccalilith Myth. The Tithe Barn, Somerset
Jul 2022: HAUNTED SIBLINGHOOD. The Galleries, Bristol
"Using my self-awareness & study of psychology to inform my work, I invite the public into the personal experience; conversing with the human state to explore our impact on our environment, people, planet and others. I acknowledge art as therapy in order to probe the darker depths of self in an integral manner, channelling highly emotional, raw & confronting work. "
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Esmée Asia Turlej
EDUCATION
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2021: BA(Hons) in Fine Art: 2.1. Bristol University West of England
2020: ERASMUS: University of Barcelona
2018: Foundation in Art and Design: Merit. Plymouth College of Art
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EXHIBITIONS SHOWN IN
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2023: Works In Progress via Together We Make Bristol, Centrespace, Bristol.
2022: HAUNTED SIBLINGHOOD via The Living Womb, The Galleries, Bristol.
Anthropos Pre-party. Bristol.
Boston Tea Party, Stokes Croft, Bristol.
The Lovers via The Living Womb.
Dareshack via UMBRA collective, Bristol.
2021: HAPPENINGS, via The Living Womb, Together We Make
and Pri's Art Salon, Strange Brew, Bristol.
Upper Perry Hill, Bristol.
2020: COVID19. Online exhibition art space.
2019: MIRUM, Spike Island Studios, Bristol.
Crescendo, Spike Island Studios, Bristol.
Spike Island Open Studios, Bristol.
Electronic Ecosystem, St Pauls Crypt, Bristol.
Make A f*****g Decision, Spike Island Studios, Bristol.
2018: You're Not Invited, Spike Island Studios, Bristol.
REWRITTEN, Ocean Studios, Plymouth.
Public Outdoor Art Exhibition, The Sundial, Plymouth.
2017- Final Show, Ridgeway Secondary School, Plymouth.
The Rotary Club, Young Artist of the Year, Plymouth.
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CURATED EXHIBITIONS AS THE LIVING WOMB
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2022- Curated and co-organised Queer Storytelling with Evie Rey: QUEERMAS EVE, The Cloak & Dagger, Bristol.
Curated and co-organised Queer Storytelling with Evie Rey: AUTUMN QUEERNOIX, The Cloak & Dagger, Bristol.
Curated and co-organised Queer Storytelling with Evie Rey: FAG HAG, The Cloak & Dagger, Bristol.
Solo curated and organised HAUNTED SIBLINGHOOD as The Living Womb, The Galleries, Bristol.
The Lovers, Bristol.
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2021: HAPPENINGS. In collaboration with Together We Make Bristol and Pri's Art Salon. Strange Brew, Bristol.
Upper Perry Hill, Bristol.
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CURATED EXHIBITIONS
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2023: Works In Progress with Together We Make Bristol, Centrespace, Bristol.
2020: Voices Of AYA via Daughters Of Africa Foundation. Abuko House, The Gambia.
2018: You're Not Invited. Spike Island Studios, Bristol.
Public Outdoor Art Exhibition, The Sundial, Plymouth.
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PUBLICATIONS
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2021: WOMANHOOD Bristol. (A 40 page zine showcasing voices of Woman creatives living in Bristol through poetry, visual art, photography and collage.)
2023: Inspiring Success- Plympton Academy, Art.
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COLLABORATIONS
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2023: I AM THEM. Movement and drawing performance with BiBi Krauskova for Works In Progress, Centrespace, Bristol.
Ancient Techno with Omelio and Jac Limbrick. Performance for Pri's Art Salon at Amp Studios, London.
Digital exploration, moving as instrument. Collaboration with Philip Sinclair.
2022: Music and movement performance with Angharad Iris at HAUNTED SIBLINGHOOD, Bristol.
MAGGOT. Film performance with Jocelyn Brett, Sol Baldi and Hat Fidkin.
Masked movement performance with Maya Albagaloo via UMBRA CREATIVES at Dareshack, Bristol.
Tarot painting collaboration with Amy Loizou.
2021: Tillian, movement, painting and music performance with Omar Rocha and Julio Xiuhcóatl for Pri's Art Salon at Amp Studios, London.
Shadow and mirror movement video exploration with Rosa Brown.
Music and movement film exploration with Alexander Canwell.
2020: Painting collaboration with Natasha Watson (Urbxn Fay).
2019: Painted movement, film exploration with Jocelyn Brett.
Collaborative burial breathing performance for Leah Wellington. Spike Island Open Studios, Bristol.
Spoken word and movement performance with Tulla Rose. St Paul's Crypt, Bristol.
2017: Free The Nipple, performance and photography work with Bel Germon.
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PERFORMANCES
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2023: Self-divinity ritual painting performance for University of Bristol's Art Society ball. The Mount Without, Bristol.
2022: 'He'. Movement and painting performance for Altered Festival, The Galleries, Bristol.
'A Saturday Night's Performance'. Movement and paint for University of Bristol's Art Society ball. Circomedia, Bristol.
2021: 'Who Is She?' Movement and painting performance for Pri's Art Salon at Amp Studios, London.
GRANTS/AWARDS
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2021: Spike Associates Membership. Spike Island, Bristol.
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COMMISSIONS
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2022: Mural painting for Mahakala Retreat Centre in Montenegro.
Painted ceramic flower pot.
2021: Van mural in collaboration with Natasha Watson/Urbxn Fay.
2020: Acrylic portrait on canvas of mother and daughter.
Acrylic portrait on canvas of dancer in forest. (1)
Acrylic portrait on canvas of dancer in forest. (2)
2018: Acrylic portrait on paper of siblings.
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EXPERIENCES
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2022: Founded The Living Womb gallery and event company.
Intuitive Movement and Drawing Discovery workshop for HAUNTED SIBLINGHOOD, The Galleries, Bristol.
Live painting for Bristol Pride, via Bitch Please!
Intuitive Movement and Drawing Discovery workshop for Mahalaka Retreat Centre, Montenegro.
Rave performer for El Row, Manchester and London.
2021: Dancer for PICCALILITH MYTH in Pilton, Somerset.
2020: Creative self-expression organiser and facilitator for the Abuko Youth Association in Abuko, The Gambia with Daughter of Africa Foundation.
2019: Performer for Little Red Cap with Izzi Daly and Megan Mila.
Contestant for Art Battle Bristol.
2017: Art technician for Plympton Academy, Plymouth.
Teaching assistant at Yealmpstone Farm Primary School.
2016-2018: Ballroom and Latin dance teacher in training. Puttin' On The Ritz Dance Studio, Plymouth.
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