JCG Perth Festival Community Artmaking

You are invited to be a part of a community led creation of an artwork!

For those who have previously booked tickets, we are disappointed to share that Thania Petersen is unable to travel to Perth on medical advice. While Thania focuses on her health, the planned community‑led sessions will continue as scheduled. We appreciate your understanding and support and encourage you to join us in creating this unique installation! 

Rampies Sny

Thania Petersen

Join us in the creation of world renowned Cape Town artist Thania Petersen's large scale olfactory installation Rampies sny.

Drop in for any length of time over the activity dates to work with Gallery staff on this immersive artwork, created with the Perth community.

Your participation in the creation of the artwork would involve assisting with cutting of citrus leaves and filling organza bags with frankincense and oils infused leaves.

Thania Petersen is deeply informed by the histories of the Indian Ocean and Trans-Oceanic memory, tracing the interconnectedness of cultures, migrations, and shared experiences. As an African Creole artist, she seeks to retell and reclaim histories and cultural memory. Tracing the migration of Sufi music and ritual, Petersen’s large-scale olfactory installation Rampies Sny and film JAWAP – an Australian premiere – fill the galleries with smell, sound and sumptuous imagery. 

Previously realised in Cape Town and Tunisia, Petersen’s Rampies sny installation links the intimacy of clothing and linen drawers to a history of migration. Consisting of thousands of small organza bags, filled with freshly cut citrus leaves and infused with frankincense and precious essential oils, the olfactory installation permeates the exhibition halls with what Petersen calls, ‘smells that recall a thousand places.’ Named after a unique Cape Muslim tradition, the installation reflects a ritual in which women cut and scent fragrant leaves with oils and incense, packaging them into cloth bundles, accompanied by poetry, song, and blessings.

Dates:

Saturday 31 January, 12pm - 4pm

Sunday 1 February, 12pm - 4pm

Monday 2 February, 11am - 4pm

The bags will be hung by John Curtin Gallery staff from Monday 2 February.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join this community creation activity.

Perth Festival exhibitions run from 6 February to 3 May 2026.

The Gallery’s public opening hours during exhibitions are Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 12pm to 4pm. Closed Saturdays and Public Holidays.

Registration is essential.

Banner Images: Artist portrait of Thania Petersen, photographed by Oliver Kruger. Courtesy of the artist, Ames Yavuz. Process view of Thania Petersen, Rampies Sny, 2022, organza bags, citrus leaves smoked with frankincense, essential oils, dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist, Ames Yavuz, and MOCAA, South Africa

Photography

This event will be photographed and/or videoed and images will occasionally be used for promotional and marketing purposes, including social media. If you do not wish to be photographed or videoed, please notify staff at event registration.

Accessibility

Everyone is welcome at the John Curtin Gallery. Plan your visit to the John Curtin Gallery.