Workshop | Your Origin with Weniki Hensch

What makes you, “you”? Layers of experience, personality and connection with loved ones combined with our physical traits all come together to create a unique blueprint – a fingerprint of who we are.

In this fun and engaging workshop with multimedia artist Weniki Hensch consider these layers and be encouraged to think about them in new ways.

Guided by Weniki, create an acrylic and plywood magnet to take home and treasure. Using pre-cut shapes hand drawn by Weniki and inspired by carved markings and motifs of Papua New Guinean masks and sculptures, learn how these shapes echo and mimic our subtle facial expressions and individual features that make us instantly recognisable to those we love.

While you create your magnet, hear Weniki speak more about the meaning behind her artwork, Echo of our Evolution, including the surprising origins of facial recognition software, and the importance of family, culture and understanding our origins.

Who is this for?

This workshop is for all ages, but little hands may need help putting pieces together. If you don’t wish to participate in the workshop but are attending as a helper, please book a companion ticket to ensure we can include everyone who wants to participate.

This workshop involves minimal use of low temperature glue. NCM staff are happy to help where needed.

Workshop outcomes

Take home a miniature artwork of your own to display on your fridge and be empowered to engage in deeper conversations about who you are.

See below an example of what your magnet might look like. What unique features will yours have?

‘The origin of our visual recognition begins from birth, direct from the womb between mother and child, then progresses to recognising conscience and unconscious visual cues in others outside of the family unit. This installation is a translation of American psychologist Dr Paul Ekman’s Facial Action Coding System which is an anatomically based system for describing all visually discernible facial movement. It breaks down facial expressions into individual components of muscle movement, called Action Units (AUs). These studies have been instrumental in the development of the structural mechanics of today’s Facial Recognition technologies.

The layered perspex and plywood mimic the gestural facial markings which deepens and accentuates the structures of the faces on these pieces. Echoing the interactions and gradients of emotions shared between loved ones or strangers. The chest piece, which is based on my form and body print, represents a ‘blueprint’, a genetic map of ancestors of the past, present and future. A reminder of the origin of humanity through the steady acceleration of technology.’

Weniki’s artwork Echoes of Evolution is on display in Instruments of Surveillance .. Make sure to take a look for inspiration.

• NCM is fully wheelchair accessible
• This program includes seating for all participants
• All gender and accessible toilets available on both levels
• NCM is a high sensory space with a variety of noise and lighting
• If you have anything we can help with, please get in touch with us at programs@ncm.org.au , we'd love to help