Otomys is proud to present Vantage Point - a group exhibition bringing together seven artists in Paddington, Sydney from 15 - 25 October 2026.
Seven artists, seven vantage points, one room - close enough to compare, distinct enough to hold their own. Vantage Point is the second exhibition in the Otomys In Residence programme, following Still Point at Villa Alba Museum in 2025.
152 - 154 Jersey Road, Paddington, Sydney, 2021
Register interest via info@otomys.com
OTOMYS: What was your intention behind the work in Vantage Point?
Frances van Hasselt: Our work for Vantage Point comes from our recent collection, Are We There Yet? A body of work that considers time and our relationship to our ecosystems. The collection begins with the ancient past. We live in a landscape that was once a seabed, its mountains and rocks carrying traces of millions of years of geological time. Working with mohair, an ancient fibre endemic to this region, and artisanal textile techniques, we explore the conversation between where we have come from, where we are going, and the marks we leave behind. The landscape is also a source of imagination. Mountains and rocks can become dinosaurs when viewed differently; as the light shifts, these forms seem to move and breathe. This sense of play invites us to slow down and consider the present moment: what do we notice, what do we engage with, and what does it mean to spend time looking? Although the works may appear simple at first, their intricacy is revealed through sustained attention. The warp, yarn, stitch, weaving, design and markings each carry layers of time, technique and intention. Much of this technical language may not be immediately visible to the viewer, but it is embedded in every piece.
OTOMYS: Have you noticed any subtle or significant shifts in your practice whilst creating this body of work?
Frances van Hasselt: This body of work has taken two years to make and brings together techniques we have been refining over the past decade. Like fossils that are formed through layers of time and later uncovered, the works are built through layers of material, process, memory and detail. Each artisan has contributed to this process; working with clay, rock pigments gathered from the landscape, and translating observations, conversations and contemporary forms into the visual language of the collection. While the artwork originates from my direction, its intentionality is deeply understood by every artisan. Individual markings, gestures and interpretations accumulate to create a collective language. The result is a body of work that embraces greater freedom while remaining deeply rooted in place, process and shared knowledge. Ultimately, Vantage Point asks us to pause and notice. To look beyond what is immediately visible, and perhaps, through that act of attention, to feel a little more connected to ourselves, to one another, and to the ecosystems in which we live.
View the Vantage Point catalouge online here
