Testa Dura II (Mule Head II)

I was born to Italian parents in 1954 and raised in the southwestern suburbs of Sydney, a region that has one of the most culturally diverse communities. This experience of growing up in Sydney's perceived outskirts, in a community that is defined through migration has influenced my own construction of self and artistic practice. In this exhibition I am exploring my Italian Australian heritage and how it has inspired my art practice. I am also investigating the Italian diaspora throughout Australia and researching it through my own family history.

My father Domenico, who arrived in Sydney in 1927, was interned for 5 years during WW2 in 1940 in Hay, NSW. He was then sent out to work in as POW throughout Australia, including towns like Alice Springs, NT, Butlers Gorge, TAS, and with the Victorian Forestry. This is a secret history of first generation Australians during WW1 and WW2 which needs to be recognized.

The title "Testa Dura (Mule Head)" is after the phrase "Testa Calabrisi” from the southern Italian dialect, which some Italians may take as an insult, but I’m taking it on as a positive idea rather like the way the phrase “Wog Boys” has been used in theatre productions. It is a strengthening idea rather than a negative one. Testa Dura means hard-headed and holding your own opinions and not swaying. I see this as the life-blood of an artist.  

                                                                                    Artist, Vince Vozzo

The artist is available to run a sculptural paper mache workshop during the exhibition and/or sculptural drawing workshop.