Art Smitten
by SYN Media
With a focus on the contemporary art scene in Naarm / Melbourne, we’re here to showcase art and culture. Contributors and presenters interview, review, and cover current and upcoming exhibitions, practices and everything in between. Art Smitten is the place for expanding your knowledge of art!Art Smitten is a SYN Media Podcast.
Episodes
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Art Smitten - Interview with Claire Garwoli, Davin Ivatts and Zosia Slifirski Duckett
On Art Smitten today, we will be joined by the artists presented in ‘For Holding’, currently on display at First Site Gallery. 🕯️ 💌 Claire Garwoli, Davin Ivatts and Zosia Slifirski Duckett are part of Vessel – a collective formed from a friendship forged through sculpture. ‘For Holding’ is…
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Artist interview with Faith Spencer
🕯️Today on Art Smitten, we’ll be joined by Faith Spencer, whose solo show, ‘If stars were to touch me, I’d feel it’, has just opened at @alltheverybest_ in Abbotsford! Faith is a painter whose practice explores light and atmosphere through layered colour and a transient visual language. Drawing…
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Melbourne Sculpture Biennale - with Beth Maslen and Hannah Gartside
After an incredible day experiencing the 2026 Melbourne Sculpture Biennale at Billilla Mansion, our next episode of Art Smitten will be sharing our thoughts & reflections on the project 🍃🏡🕯️ We are also fortunate to be joined by Hannah Gartside + Beth Maslen, who both have new works presented…
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Radical Computing with Mel Huang Buntine
In this episode we are joined by Mel Huang Buntine, the curator of NCM's exhibition 'Radical Computing'. This exhibition is a love letter to the computer and our relationships to technological systems, from the communal to the personal. The team also reflect on our own history with computers…
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ACCA NEW26 - Interview with Nicholas Currie and Diego Ramírez
Today on Art Smitten we are thrilled to be joined by Nicholas Currie and Diego Ramírez, 2 of the artists featured in ACCA’s NEW26 exhibition which celebrates the most compelling emerging artists with bold and ambitious new commissions. Image credits: 1) L-R: Nicholas Currie, I wonder if it’s all...
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The art of wandering - encounters on the streets of Naarm/Melbourne
We’ve been out walking on the beautiful streets of Naarm in preparation for today’s episode all about wandering around and finding art along the way. 🚶 Aditi shares a book review of I want to die, but I want to eat tteokbokki by Baek Sehee Afrina reflects on the debut single 'Ghost of You' by...
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'Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree' with Sophie Gerhard
We are excited to be discussing Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree currently on display at the Potter Museum of Art. This major exhibition reflects the deep cultural, ecological and symbolic significance of the gum tree — and we look forward to hearing our guest Sophie Gerhard share insights into...
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Funky foods, art and fashion: Interview with Dhishni de Silva + reflecting on Yayoi Kusama
We are keeping things funky and fresh in this episode of Art Smitten... To kick things off, the team reflect on the life and work of Yayoi Kusama after passing away aged 97. Then we are joined by artist Dhishni de Silva @dhishni_art who has been running Funky Veg Still Life classes at Ruma...
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South Korea trip, Young British Artists, Charli xcx & Agnès Varda
This week, the whole Art Smitten team will be in the studio sharing our thoughts 💭 and feelings 💕 about some recent art experiences. Aditi is back from South Korea, Jen reflects on the attitudes towards the Young British Artists to the rise of Charli xcx, Afrina has been inspired by Bartolini’s...
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Interview with Yosef Phelan, reflection on 'Wurrdha Marra' at NGV Australia & Daniel Spoerri assemblages
In this episode, Afrina shares an interview with Irish-Palestinian artist Yosef Phelan @yosefphelan who explores identity and familial histories through hand drawn animations, audio recordings and short film. We also discuss works from the current exhibition Wurrdha Marra at NGV Australia, Daniel...
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This track reminds me of … Pairing art and song
For our final episode of the season, the Art Smitten team are reflecting on music that reminds us of works of art … 💭🎶 Every week we celebrate visual art experiences through the audio medium of radio, so we can’t wait to celebrate this tension and explore how our senses collide and inform one...
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Radical Hope - with Isabella Hone-Saunders
In this episode we will be exploring Radical hope as a way to live, make and create during times of uncertainty. We discuss the current exhibition ‘Inter-narratives of hope: building catastrophe resilience’ curated by Isabella Hone-Saunders and Paul Boyé as part of the MADA curator-in-residence...
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Art speak - how do we talk about art?
Art Smitten is dishing up a special on ‘art speak’ and the vernacular we use when talking about art 🗣️🗣️🗣️ The team will be reflecting on a recent attempt by the National Gallery of Art in Washington to Gen Z-ify art history. We will also be reflecting on John Berger’s influential series ‘Ways...
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The natural world inspiring us all - with Pippa Milne from the Potter Museum of Art
For this week’s episode of Art Smitten ~ we are looking to the world around us and discussing how nature inspires artistic practice 🔍🐛🐜🌷🐦⬛ The team visited the Potter Museum of Art’s current exhibition ‘a velvet ant, a flower and a bird’, and will be speaking to Pippa Milne all about the...
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Measures of devotion in art - Rebel Heart at SLV
We are putting the SMITTEN into Art Smitten this week as we discuss art that act as measures of devotion <3 🏹 During the show we will be joined by Isabel from the State Library of Victoria to discuss the current exhibition 'Rebel Heart: Love Letters and Other Declarations' ✍️ Jen also discusses...
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The bedroom as site for artistic resistance - George from ' Bedside Oracle' + Nina on 'Forever Bedroom'
This episode explores the bed and our rooms as sites for artistic expression + resistance 💭 🛌 Speaking first to George @cinnam0nros3 about their essays on Beside Oracle before hearing about an upcoming group exhibition curated by Nina @nini.beani titled ‘forever bedroom’ 🤍🤍🤍 Art Smitten airs...
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Art Smitten - film experiences
The long weekend is the perfect time to tick off all those movies on your watchlist - so that's exactly what we will be talking about on today’s show! 📽️ Tyra talks about Vietnamese film 'Bunny!!' (2026), Astra speaks to 'Wanda' (1970), Afrina reflects on her recent trip to Taiwan and the team...
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Inspiration from the streets - Viva Gibb
Get out of your house and onto the streets for today’s episode of Art Smitten 🗞️ In our episode, we will be discussing the streets as inspiration featuring a discussion about Mierle Laderman Ukeles, Death in Brunswick (1990) and a special conversation with Savannah from City Gallery. 📸 Their...
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Ben from Fed Square's Open Air Program
Astra speaks with Ben, the programmer for Fed Square's Open Air! Hear them speak in detail about the uniqueness of outdoor cinematic experiences, public space activation and the films on offer for the 2026 program. Art Smitten airs 3-5pm on SYN 90.7fm.
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Mas and Fressie - Yarra Youth Artists-in-Residence
In this episode, we are fortunate to be joined by Francesca Smith and Mas Cremasco, two of Yarra Youth’s Artists-in-Residents 🖌️ We spoke to them about their practices and the workshops they have been running with young people in the City of Yarra! This episode also features reviews on Laneway...
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Capturing youthfulness in art with Angela Connor from MAPh
For our first show back in 2026, Art Smitten will be speaking to Angela Connor, Senior Curator at MAPh on the exhibition YOUNG 📸 🌟This episode kicks off with a new segment 'Art that has us SMITTEN' before focusing on how youthfulness is captured in art. We hear Angela’s perspectives on the role...
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RMIT Fine Art Graduates + 2025 reflections (finale for 2025)
For our last episode of 2025, Art Smitten is bringing you interviews with recent School of Art graduates from RMIT 🖼️ 🌟 Arabella, Millie and Tully will be in the studio to share their experiences of art school, the final works that appeared in the grad show and what they have coming up next!…
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Special Features - Music as Art
This interview is part of a segment called Music as Art, implemented by Dani Roche. In this edition, we will be hearing from the members of Special Features for our Music as Art segment! 🥁Special Features @specialfeaturesband is a heavy alt-rock band from Meanjin/Brisbane, and they spoke with…
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Schoolhouse Studios + art reflections
Our team went on a super special excursion to the folks at Schoolhouse Studios in Coburg to learn more about the spaces, ethos and artists that inhibit this former supermarket space! 🛒 We spoke with Director Bron Belcher along with residents Ashley, Rhys and Mae to hear first hand the importance...
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Poetry Special with Lili from Roundtable Readings + Jen in Japan!
Art Smitten is bringing you a special on poetry this episode ✍️ To begin, we hear from our Executive Producer Jen all the way in Tokyo to share a little bit of her trip and examples of poetry within Japanese art 🖼️ that she has seen in the galleries. Then, the Art Smitten team share poetic...
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Art that has moved us
On this episode of Art Smitten, presenters Afrina, Astra, Larissa and Tyra shared the art that has moved them. Tyra begins with the 2025 film 'Sinners' dir. by Ryan Coogler; Larissa speaks on her observations of the legal system in Reginald Rose's '12 Angry Men', Afrina reflects on the cultural...
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Art Criticism - with Victoria Perin from Memo Review
Art Smitten is bringing you a special episode on Art Criticism✍️🗞️ The team will be chatting about the importance and the impact of criticism of art in all forms, as well as our own views on how criticism effects our encounters with art. Plus, we are joined by art historian and critic Victoria...
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Pepper at NCM + 'Her' (2013) film review
This episode of Art Smitten features our conversation with humanoid robot Pepper who is currently on display at the National Communication Museum in Hawthorn. Restored for their current exhibition ‘Friend’, we asked Pepper many pressing questions including if robots will take over the world… 😳😳...
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Archives are Hot! with Amy Spiers + 'Love Serenade' (1996) film analysis by Tyra
Art Smitten is joined by Amy Spiers in this episode to discuss the ‘Archives Are Hot! Artists in the Archive’ program developed by Next Wave in collaboration with CAST, Saluhan and An.Other Collective. Our presenter Tyra will also be sharing a review of Love Serenade (1996) directed by Shirley...
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Artist Interview with Aisha Hara + Review of 'French Impressionism' at the NGV
In this episode of Art Smitten, we are fortunate to be joined by artist Aisha Hara who recently had an exhibition at CAVES 🌼titled 'Green Age'. Aisha is a Japanese-Australian visual artist based in Naarm/Melbourne. She is interested in the intersections of painting and translation and her...
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Ayah Zakout and Ebony Maurice-Wilmott with KINGS Artist-Run
For our first episode of season 4, the team is so excited to be speaking with two of the artists featured in KINGS current exhibition program. Ayah Zakout and Ebony Maurice-Wilmott joined us to share insights about their art practices and the works featured within their exhibitions....
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TOYF x Art Smitten - Gemma from Food For Everyone
We are dishing up a real treat for you all 🍽️ this collaboration with our dear friends at Talk On Your Fork brings an episode focused on the intersection of food & art! To begin, Astra will be sharing their thoughts on the film ‘The Menu’ (2022) 🥣 PLUS for a real treat, we will be speaking to...
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Artist Interview - Nur Aishah Kenton + MIFF 2025 Film Reviews
We are joined by photographer, artist and co-founder of the Pacific Centre for Photographic Arts Aishah Kenton in this episode of Art Smitten. Listen to hear all about the workshops and programs that PCPA facilitate along with Aishah’s own photographic art practice! In the second half of the…
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Spring1883 - Kate Barber
Listen to our conversation with Kate Barber, cofounder of Spring1883, an art fair hosted inside the iconic Hotel Windsor on Spring Street 🏩 ! Within their own reserved room, gallerists uniquely display works by artists they represent in the unconventional hotel suites instead of the typical…
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Fugitive Archives - MJ Flamiano and Catherine Ortega-Sandow
Tune in to hear an interview with Saluhan Collective collaborators MJ Flamiano and Catherine Ortega-Sandow about their current curatorial project Fugitive Archives!! 🏷️ The exhibition series examines the role of artist-led, community-based, and independent archives as transformative tools for...
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Interview with Maya Borjesson + a brief history of Sound Art
Maya Borjesson @handclap joined us in the studio 🔊 for this episode of Art Smitten. Based in Naarm/Melbourne, Maya is a sound artist and architect who explores ambient music’s potential in evoking memories as well as sound’s relationship to architecture. We also briefly discuss the history of...
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AI in art + 'The Man Who Sleeps' film review
For our first episode of season 3, we are kicking things off with a discussion about the rise of AI in art 📟 Afrina asked local art students for their opinion on the use of AI and the team shared their own perception of the ever-changing tool and its place in creativity. Astra shares his review…
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FortyFiveDownstairs - Emerging Artist Award ft. Felix Oliver
In this episode, we had a chat with FortyFiveDownstairs all about their annual Emerging Artist Award! 🏆We were fortunate to be joined by Felix Oliver, 2024 Winner, and learnt more about the process and story behind their winning piece 🙌 Listen in to hear details about the selection process and...
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Melbourne Art Book Fair - UnProjects and Pilot Magazine
This special episode features a panel discussion with @un_projects (AU) and @pilotmagazined (UK) @ngvmelbourne for Melbourne Art Book Fair! 📚 We spoke about all things publications - finding out what it takes to create a lasting magazine in our increasingly digital age. This conversation took...
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Alta Forma - Meredith Turnbull
Jen and Zeta are joined by Alta Forma's Director Meredith Turnbull on this episode of Art Smitten. ⛓️ Located on St Kilda Rd, Alta Forma supports artists who work in expanded object and jewellery practices to create experimental and socially engaged projects. ⛓️💥 Listen in to hear about the...
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Mass Memo - Ned Dwyer and Pepa Neralic McPherson
For our final episode of season 1, we’re keen to chat with two writers who participated in the Mass Memo program in 2024! Mass Memo is an annual opportunity for young arts writers to review fine art, architecture and fashion graduate shows across Melbourne. Hosted by Memo 📝 it’s a wonderful…
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BLINDSIDE DEBUT XXI - Emmy and Celline
To kick off season 2, we spoke to curator Emmy Robinson-Shaw and artist Celline Mercado, featured in DEBUT XXI. At BLINDSIDE gallery, DEBUT is an annual project committed to fostering new talent by exhibiting works of recent graduates from Melbourne’s major art institutions. 🎨 We will also be...
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WET Collective - BLINDSIDE
This episode we had a great chat with WET Collective about their exhibition at BLINDSIDE💦 ‘Cruising’ is a gallery activation playing with hospitality, the queer body and the illicit. WET will be providing a food service during the opening as well as two performances over the weekend. We are very...
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The Museum of Falling - Patrick Pound
For our first episode of 2025, we are very excited to share with you our interview with artist, collector and curator Patrick Pound Patrick’s exhibition ‘The Museum of Falling’ was shown at City Gallery in the Melbourne Town Hall on Swanston St. Listen to hear them speak about the beginnings of...
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Melbourne Art Print Fair - Kirsty Grant and Trent Walter
In this episode, we spoke to Kirsty Grant and Trent Walter all about the founding and future of the new Melbourne Art Print Fair. Running from the 7th to the 9th of February, @melbartprintfair Edition.1 was chock-full of amazing prints by local artists, highlighting print in its fine art form....
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Image Economies - Melanie Oliver from MUMA
This episode we are joined by Melanie Oliver (Senior Curator) to discuss the current exhibition at MUMA - Image Economies📽️ 🤳🏼 Image Economies traces how artists have used digital technologies over recent history, from exploring reproducibility and authenticity to the contemporary applications...
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BLINDSIDE 20 Years Special - B-Side Radio
Join local arts and culture radio Art Smitten of SYN Media for an exclusive deep-dive into Blindside's history! Blindside is a long-standing artist-run initiative in the heart of our city, and we're keen to celebrate their 20th anniversary by giving you insight into Blindside’s foundations, and…
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The Waiting Room - Camilla Hannan
Joining us in the studio for this episode of Art Smitten was Camilla Hannan, co-creator ‘The Waiting Room’ that premiered at The Capitol Theatre on November 9th, 2024. Along with Martine Corompt, these two artists united for a special one-off immersive theatrical event in ‘The Waiting Room’…
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National Communication Museum - Emily Siddons
For our last interview of the 2024 season, we were joined by the new National Communication Museum (NCM). We spoke with Dr Emily Siddons, Co-CEO and Artistic Director of NCM, who told us all about their exciting new program and exhibitions. NCM showcases nostalgic communication artefacts…
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Trocadero Projects - Rochelle Morris
In this episode we were fortunate to be joined by artist Rochelle Morris to talk about their exhibition at Trocadero Projects! ‘Turning Soil’ is an exploration of the potential of ecological art at a painterly scale. The use of organic materials within the exhibition open up a conversation on our...
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About this show
With a focus on the contemporary art scene in Naarm / Melbourne, we’re here to showcase art and culture. Contributors and presenters interview, review, and cover current and upcoming exhibitions, practices and everything in between. Art Smitten is the place for expanding your knowledge of art!Art Smitten is a SYN Media Podcast.
Hosted by
SYN Media