Hannah Brontë x Megan Hanson is the collaborative costume aspect of Hannah’s EYE HEAR U MAGIK, at the National Gallery of Victoria Triennial, 2020. In May 2020, Hannah contacted me and invited me to work with her on her commission for the NGV, producing costumes. Over video-chat we spoke about intuition, mothers, mother of pearl, and oceans, and how her art practice is a collaborative one. Hannah described to me an image of a mother of pearl baby belly and long, tenticle fingers. These were things she wanted to include in the costume designs. She also spoke of trust, and asked that I follow my own creative intuition when working on the costumes.
The costumes were produced in my bedroom throughout the Covid-19 lockdown in Sydney, 2020, and shipped up to Hannah in Brisbane for her shoot once complete.
I’d like to thank Hannah deeply for this exchange. Working with Hannah, and coming to know her through this project was a beautiful experience. She is a powerful woman, for whom I have great respect. I am grateful for the work she does, and privelledged to have had a role in the production of her compelling EYE HEAR U MAGIK.
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“Given we don’t know each other I think we should meet beforehand to discuss safety, consent and preferences...” was a collaborative group performance for Art Month, Sydney, 2019. It involved the coming together of members of my queer community to engage with and make video and photographic content around a collection of garments I produced for their bodies. The participants worked together in the following capacity:
Models: Api Rainima, Chloe Corkran, JD Reforma, Michaela Vujovic and Simonne Goran
Photography: Jonno Revanche
Hair and Makeup: Leila El Rayes
Video and Garments: Megan Hanson
The format of the performance was open. Throughout the course of the evening the models changed from their everyday wear to the garments I had made for them, had their hair and makeup done, and posed for photos and video. The audience was free to engage with the participants, and in doing so themselves became active producers of the work.
I would like to thank each of the individuals I worked with on this project. Api, Chloe, JD, Jonno, Leila, Michaela and Simonne, you inspire me and I admire and love each of you. The creative work and energy you put into the world is so exciting and important. The world is made richer with each of you in it. Deepest gratitude.
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The Homecoming Winter Ball was held at Addison Road Community Centre in July 2019 as a fundraiser for the House of Sle. For this ball JD walked the Runway category, which asked, “Who took the fur coat? Jamaica did but it’s time you take it back! Bring it with an iconic fur. Sell the faux like it’s a real mink! Your inspiration is Elektra Abundance!” This JD Reforma x Megan Hanson collaboration resulted in a faux fur look, that evolved into our take on the Snapchat Dog Filter. The look featured puppy face, eight teats, a pair of custom faux fur sleeves embossed with the initials ‘JD’, a floor-length puffer skirt and the cutest puppy feet stilettos.
Collaborating with JD is always great fun. We riff ideas off each other in the studio, which means the look usually ends up in unpredictable places, making working together an exciting process.
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The House of Silky x Megan Hanson collaboration is a collection of four looks I produced together with Mira Silky, Xander Silky, Api Silky, Basjia Silky and Lydia Silky, for Silky’s entry into Sissy Ball 2020 Face of the Oceanic category. The Sissy Ball 2020 website states, “Face of the Oceanic. Last year we answered the call of Gaia and now we are emerging from the seven seas! Bring face as an Oceanic Goddess/God, siren, or guardian. An ode to those who protect our seas and islands, think Tangaroa, Yemaya, Maui... any Disney interpretations of our cultural deities will be CHOPPED.” Silky represented their respective cultural goddesses and god as follows: House Mother Mira Silky as Mazu, Goddess of the South China Sea; Api Silky as Dakuwaqa, the Fijian shark god; Basjia Silky as Yemoja, African Goddess of the Ocean; and Lydia Silky as Nyai Loro Kidul, Indonesian Goddess of the Ocean.
Working with Silky on this collaboration was a wonderful experience. Mira, Api, Basjia, Lydia and the other members of Silky are all so inspiring in their ballroom practice and extend this grace and generosity into their daily lives.
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