Meatus – Frances Barrett

Meatus is a new artists’ book by Frances Barrett produced in response to Barrett’s 2022 Katthy Cavaliere Fellowship exhibition at ACCA. A ‘meatus’ – to which the title refers – is an opening or passage leading to the interior of the body, such as the ear canal and nasal passages. Encompassing a range of sensations and functions, the plurality of meatus became a way for Barrett to explore practices of listening that decentre the ear to activate the entire body, attuned to both conscious responses and unconscious intensities. 

The publication features writings from curator Annika Kristensen, and roundtable conversations with Felix Abrahams, Nina Buchanan, Hayley Forward, Brian Fuata, Del Lumanta, Claudia Nicholson and Sione Teumohenga. 

Frances Barrett: Meatus was presented in partnership between the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA); Carriageworks, Sydney; and the Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council its arts funding and advisory body.