Le Phem Era operates on the unceded lands of the Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation.
Le Phem Era is an interdisciplinary practice that critically examines ephemera in all its forms through unconventional methods of archive and publication.
Le Phem Era researches through creative analysis, datafication, disruption, re-assemblage and speculation using democratic modes of production.
Le Phem Era is currently located at Studio 5, Level 1 River Studios 41–59 Sims Street, West Melbourne.
An exploration of hyper-personalisation through a series of bookshelves. Taking the customisation of an object to the point where it only works for one person or one specific purpose often leads to absurd but much more meaningful products.
The bookshelves were customised for particular books to differing degrees, relying on the physical attributes of the books in different ways. Some were tailored so specifically that they do not work without the books they were created to hold. The accompanying catalogue focused on the measurements of the books used and explained the research behind each bookshelf form.
Developed with teaching by Paul Fuog and Uriah Gray. Photography by Tobias Titz.
A month long creative development residency at Testing Grounds used to research and experiment with the relationship between disposable and enduring materials.
Clothing items were created by combining different re-purposed materials (cotton, linen, plastic) with ephemeral receipts (thermal printed paper). They were attached to one another using various methods including secure stitching, loose decorative stitching, melting and masking tape. The participants who tested the items were left to decide what was temporary or removable, and what was permanent or adaptable.
Developed with mentorship from Debris Facility.
A change of scenery and a day to focus on a project during a residency at Tree Paper Gallery, based at The Pavilion from 23 November, 2022 to 5 January, 2023. The exploration involves playing with printing and collage using a growing collection of phone photos that have been taken over the past few years.
The currently untitled project is an ongoing parody archive that consists of ephemeral signage extracted from public environments and reassembled into absurd prose. It is an exploration of the complex layers and conflicting narratives of collection through a playful and curious approach. Disregarding the context of the captured signs, fragments are brought together through linguistic collage to fabricate new meanings. The work pokes fun at the notion of an objective record of a time and place by magnifying the impact of chance, limited information and the recorder’s perspective.
A six month long residency at the Centre for Projection Art from 22 November, 2022 to 30 April, 2023.
The program will be used to develop a forthcoming exhibition that is an unconventional hybrid of documentary, narrative and publication. Additionally, the opportunity will be taken to expand film and digital projects beyond the boundaries of screens and into activations in three-dimensional space, as well as exploring ways to integrate projected imagery into traditionally non-digital works.
(More coming soon)
Distributed Goods is an ongoing project where personal relationships with friends and family are marked by a transaction of customised goods. Although the gifts are only given, not received, each object is a representation of an ongoing bond that has involved many unquantifiable interactions. The works act as material demonstration of what has already been gained or what will be taken from the interpersonal exchange in the future. Sentiment and mutual advantage are expressed and archived through creation and distribution.
(More coming soon)
‘Afa‘afakasi
‘Afa‘afakasi is an ongoing publication project initiated as motivation to learn gagana Sāmoa (Sāmoan language) and reconnect to fa‘asāmoa (Sāmoan culture), and continues with a goal of promoting visibility and reclamation.
A play on the term ‘afakasi (half Sāmoan), ‘Afa‘afakasi essentially means half of a half Sāmoan. This new term was created to raise questions around racial classifications and connection to, or disconnection from heritage. This series of publications are created through the lens of someone whose grandpa was born and raised in Sāmoa, but is mostly of European ethnicity and removed from Samoan culture. Knowledge of Sāmoa has been gained through interactions with 'āiga (family), as a tourist in Sāmoa and through research.
Rather than observing an organised system of language learning, publications are formed through a critical, collaborative and playful approach. This project explores how volumes can be interpreted in a variety of forms that are more public, accessible and immersive, where equal value is given to the process of learning as to the presentation of outcomes.
Lomiga Tasi: Folasaga Lona Lua, translating to 'Issue One: Second Introduction', is a basic introduction to language and culture. The webpage also playfully employs collaboration and digital filters to investigate feelings of cultural disconnection, as well as the lack of representation on the web (and elsewhere).
Made alongside a series of discussions and featuring collaborations with Denise Roberts, Moira Roberts and Tacy Fatu, who were born in Samoa but live on Kombumerri Country (Gold Coast) and in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland).
Link to publication
Link to screen reader-friendly version
Rainy day install at Twosixty of posters promoting Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa (Sāmoan Language Week) and the first issue of ‘Afa‘afakasi, a free online publication called Lomiga Tasi: Folasaga Lona Lua.
Created in collaboration with Denise Roberts, Moira Roberts and Tacy Fatu. Installation assistance by Oliver Moir. Photography by Emma Byrnes.
Lomiga Tasi: Folasaga Lona Lua Ata Tifaga is an audiovisual work about reconnecting to language, culture and family. This exhibition both documents the making of Lomiga Tasi: Folasaga Lona Lua and is a further extension of the project.
Featuring Denise Roberts, Moira Roberts and Tacy Fatu. In development with support from the Centre for Projection Art through their Artist-in-Residence program.
Forthcoming at RM Gallery in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), 13 September to 7 October, 2023.
Lomiga Lua: i Luga ‘o le Moana uses digital interpretations of the ocean as a backdrop to ponder space, distance, memory and the future in relation to gagana Sāmoa and fa‘asāmoa. This issue of ‘Afa‘afakasi  is a representation of the link that exists between family members across geographies despite physical distance from each other, and from Sāmoa.
The word ‘sami’ is used to describe the sea or ocean in gagana Sāmoa, but the word ‘moana’ can also be used and is shared as the word for ocean across mulitple island nations of Moana Oceania. It can also means the colour blue in gagana Sāmoa, as in ‘lanumoana’. In the context of the internet, blue is the default colour used to denote connection to other destinations in the form of hyperlinks. Lomiga Lua uses the colour blue and digital reproductions of the ocean as the context for a chorus of words, thoughts and conversations.
Created in collaboration with Tacy Fatu, Moira Roberts, Denise Roberts and Adrian Tuitama.
Iterations of this publication volume will be shown at Testing Grounds Public Art Park for Melbourne Fringe Festival (6–23 October, 2022), at the West Space Window (27 May to 18 June, 2023) and at Incinerator Gallery (from 21 July to 24 September, 2023).
The first iteration of Lomiga Lua: i Luga ‘o le Moana is a moving image work installed at Testing Grounds Public Art Park for Melbourne Fringe Festival, running 6–23 October, 2022. Public Art Park consists of a site-wide program supporting the development of works specifically developed for and in relation to the public realm.
This work combines digitally constructed interpretations of the ocean with text formed through familial connection, memory and shared interactions by ‘āiga (family) in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), on Kombumerri Country (Gold Coast) and in Kirikiriroa (Hamilton). The artificial backgrounds were created in Naarm using a mixture of illustration, code, three dimensional digital modelling and reconstructed footage taken in Sāmoa.
Created in collaboration with Tacy Fatu, Moira Roberts, Denise Roberts and Adrian Tuitama.
The second iteration of Lomiga Lua: i Luga ‘o le Moana is a moving image installation created in collaboration with Tacy Fatu, Moira Roberts, Denise Roberts and Adrian Tuitama.
Forthcoming at the West Space Window, 27 May to 18 June, 2023.
The third iteration of Lomiga Lua: i Luga ‘o le Moana will be an installation that takes the form of an enlarged and expanded publication. Included will be an array of prints and moving image works. Acting as both a resource and learning process, the work aims to provide language visibility without formality. Instead, the focus will be on humour, play and organic interaction.
Created in collaboration with Tacy Fatu, Moira Roberts, Denise Roberts and Adrian Tuitama. Forthcoming at Incinerator Gallery from 21 July to 24 September, 2023.