Sean Cordeiro and Claire Healy will premiere their vibrant moving image installation Psychopomp as part of Samstag Museum's Wirltuti season in 2025, launching 1 March. The work, commissioned through the prestigious UniSA Jeffrey Smart Commission, blends science, mysticism, and history in a dynamic exploration of the spiritual underpinnings of space exploration.
The Jeffrey Smart Commission, established in 2022 in honour of the late Jeffrey Smart, a South Australian School of Art alumnus, supports the development of a major new work or body of works, culminating in an exhibition at the gallery. Awarded every three years, the commission is open to practitioners who are either alumni of UniSA or its antecedents; recipients of the Anne and Gordon Samstag Visual Arts Scholarship; or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander practitioners.
Psychopomp draws on rich cultural references, from NASA's mythological mission names to the esoteric practices of early rocket scientists, weaving together Jack Parsons' connection to Thelema with footage of Thai and Lao fertility festivals. This cross-cultural project highlights Cordeiro and Healy’s inventive practice, cementing their reputation as leading Australian contemporary artists.
Erica Green, Director, Samstag Museum of Art, says the art museum is proud to support artists by commissioning innovative new work.
“The substantial investment of the UniSA Jeffrey Smart Commission allows artists to invest time and resources in undertaking demanding projects. In a strong field, Sean Cordeiro and Claire Healy’s proposal stood out as persuasive and compelling,” she says.
