First Nations artist takes out TCL residency

Australian landscape architecture practice, TCL, is blurring the lines between built environment professionals (including landscape architects, urban designers and architects) and creatives (like filmmakers, writers, musicians and other artists) with its residency program. TCL is the only Australian design practice to have initiated a residency program for creatives engaged in all artistic endeavours. Known as the TCL Kevin Taylor Legacy, it honours the memory, work and interests of TCL’s founding director Kevin Taylor.

Brisbane-based artist, and Meriam and Yupungathi man, Christopher Bassi has been awarded this year’s residency. His Torres Strait Islander ancestry, and drive to represent First Nations communities, informs much of his work. In addition to expressing deep gratitude at being awarded the TCL residency, he describes it as a “truly unique opportunity”.

Established in 2014, the program provides creatives with a TCL residency to the value of $15,000 for up to six months. During that time, the recipient works closely with the TCL team to develop a specific project, which culminates in a showcase event/exhibition to celebrate the completed work.

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Bassi continues: “Interesting things happen when artists interact with creatives from other fields. To have this support from TCL, and access to thinkers who ideologically share my interest in landscape and place, opens up powerful new ways to learn and strengthen my work.”

Thanks to this residency, Chris is embarking upon his first animated project. “TCL embodies a hunger for thinking outside the box and has already helped open up my practice to all kinds of possibilities!”

TCL Associate Alex Lock describes the benefits of the program further: “The residency program nurtures the creativity of both the recipient and our practice. We each propel the other to expand the way we think and work.”

Lock comments that creativity is key to innovation and the practice’s ingenuity is emboldened by working closely with all creatives. “The best creative outcomes are the result of an inter-disciplinary approach. At the intersection of different fields of creative practice is where real exploration and discovery begins!”

The Kevin Taylor Legacy program is an annual initiative by TCL. Applications for 2025/2026 will open in mid-July next year.

TCL
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