Art Smitten - The Podcast

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 program. Isabella joined us in the studio to chat with us all about the project!Also, Mio shares the work of artist Wendy Hannah whose installation work in Aotearoa had her smitten

Art Smitten is dishing up a special on ‘art speak’ and the vernacular we use when talking about art

For this week’s episode of Art Smitten ~ we are looking to the world around us and discussing how nature inspires artistic practice

We are putting the SMITTEN into Art Smitten this week as we discuss art that act as measures of devotion

This episode explores the bed and our rooms as sites for artistic expression + resistance

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!

Get out of your house and onto the streets for today’s episode of Art Smitten

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we are fortunate to be joined by Francesca Smith and Mas Cremasco, two of Yarra Youth’s Artists-in-Residents

For our first show back in 2026, Art Smitten will be speaking to Angela Connor, Senior Curator at MAPh on the exhibition YOUNG

For our last episode of 2025, Art Smitten is bringing you interviews with recent School of Art graduates from RMIT

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!

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!

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

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 resilience and beauty of Yosef Phelan's practice; and Astra wraps up with a comparison on loneliness in Edward Hopper's paintings and the film 'Perfect Days' by Wim Wenders. Art Smitten airs on SYN90.7fm Mondays 3-5pm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Art Smitten is bringing you a special episode on Art Criticism✍️

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…

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 Barrett

In this episode of Art Smitten, we are fortunate to be joined by artist Aisha Hara who recently had an exhibition at CAVES

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. @ayahzakout.jpeg @ebony_maurice.wilmott @kingsartistrun Season 4 of Art Smitten begins this Monday from 3-5pm on SYN 90.7fm @synmedia

We are dishing up a real treat for you all

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 show, the team review films seen in the final weeks of the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) for 2025. Movies covered include Sorry, Baby (dir. Eva Victor), Peter Hujar's Day (dir. Ira Sachs) and Urchin (dir. Harris Dickinson). Art Smitten airs on SYN 90.7fm @synmedia from 3-5pm on Mondays

Listen to our conversation with Kate Barber, cofounder of Spring1883, an art fair hosted inside the iconic Hotel Windsor on Spring Street

Tune in to hear an interview with Saluhan Collective collaborators MJ Flamiano and Catherine Ortega-Sandow about their current curatorial project Fugitive Archives!!

Maya Borjesson @handclap joined us in the studio

For our first episode of season 3, we are kicking things off with a discussion about the rise of AI in art

In this episode, we had a chat with FortyFiveDownstairs all about their annual Emerging Artist Award!

This special episode features a panel discussion with @un_projects (AU) and @pilotmagazined (UK) @ngvmelbourne for Melbourne Art Book Fair!

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.⛓️‍

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

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.

This episode we had a great chat with WET Collective about their exhibition at BLINDSIDE

For our first episode of 2025, we are very excited to share with you our interview with artist, collector and curator Patrick PoundPatrick’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 this project, their artistic process and how they gained access to the City of Melbourne's archive.Art Smitten airs on SYN 90.7FM. SYN Media acknowledges and pays respect to the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands the SYN office and studios stand. SYN and the Art Smitten team would like to further acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the Lands and Waters across Australia where our content reaches. Art Smitten would like to expand that respect to Bunjil, the great creator ancestor of the Kulin nations. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land. Image: Details from 'The Museum of Falling' by Patrick Pound. Credit: Tobias TitzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.Participating print studios and publishers included Baldessin Press, Kaleidoscope Editions, Megalo Print Studio, Negative Press, Print Council of Australia, Spacecraft and Sunshine Editions

This episode we are joined by Melanie Oliver (Senior Curator) to discuss the current exhibition at MUMA - Image Economies

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 the creative community networks behind the gallery.Presented in two parts, these special segments will discuss the history and cross-disciplinary programs that Blindside contributes to the vibrant arts ecology of Naarm/Melbourne, and will highlight pivotal moments of growth and fresh artistic direction from the collective enthusiasm and expertise of Blindside’s alumni and community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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’, where the audience will share the joy of anticipation, the pleasure of expectation, and the thrill of impatience.Created exclusively for the 100-year old Capitol theatre in Melbourne featuring live experimental music from The Overtone Ensemble quartet, ‘The Waiting Room’ elaborates on the notion of waiting as a disorientating event in itself. We spoke about the origins of this project, Camilla's background in the theatric world and getting started in sound production. Art Smitten airs on SYN Radio 90.7 FM SYN Media acknowledges and pays respect to the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands the SYN office and studios stand. SYN and the Art Smitten team would like to further acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the Lands and Waters across Australia where our content reaches. Art Smitten would like to expand that respect to Bunjil, the great creator ancestor of the Kulin nations. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, exploring how new and old technologies have changed our lives over the years. Art Smitten airs on SYN Radio 90.7 FM SYN Media acknowledges and pays respect to the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands the SYN office and studios stand. SYN and the Art Smitten team would like to further acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the Lands and Waters across Australia where our content reaches. Art Smitten would like to expand that respect to Bunjil, the great creator ancestor of the Kulin nations. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 relationship and responsibilities to nature and our environment. Art Smitten airs on SYN Radio 90.7 FM SYN Media acknowledges and pays respect to the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands the SYN office and studios stand. SYN and the Art Smitten team would like to further acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the Lands and Waters across Australia where our content reaches. Art Smitten would like to expand that respect to Bunjil, the great creator ancestor of the Kulin nations. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Art Smitten airs on SYN Radio 90.7 FM SYN Media acknowledges and pays respect to the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands the SYN office and studios stand. SYN and the Art Smitten team would like to further acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the Lands and Waters across Australia where our content reaches. Art Smitten would like to expand that respect to Bunjil, the great creator ancestor of the Kulin nations. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we were lucky to chat with Sophia Cai, Director of Bus Projects!Bus Projects is a long-term ARI based in our city, and has recently been showing some amazing artists – including some that we interviewed previously this year. Sophia talks about how Bus operates, her role and the journey that led her to becoming the director. Art Smitten airs on SYN Radio 90.7 FM SYN Media acknowledges and pays respect to the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands the SYN office and studios stand. SYN and the Art Smitten team would like to further acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the Lands and Waters across Australia where our content reaches. Art Smitten would like to expand that respect to Bunjil, the great creator ancestor of the Kulin nations. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we spoke in-depth with Kaiqi from Betweenia Project 夾洲計劃 !Kai joined us for the end of our live show at Melbourne Art Book Fair earlier in the year, and we’re very interested to hear what Betweenia has been up to since then!Betweenia Project is an art book and zine distributor bringing a collection of zines, publications and DIY content here to Naarm. Art Smitten airs on SYN Radio 90.7 FM SYN Media acknowledges and pays respect to the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands the SYN office and studios stand. SYN and the Art Smitten team would like to further acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the Lands and Waters across Australia where our content reaches. Art Smitten would like to expand that respect to Bunjil, the great creator ancestor of the Kulin nations. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.