Born in Salvador, Brazil in 1963, Vanila Netto arrived in Australia in 1987. She creates photographic scenarios inspired by architecture, design and science fiction. Her practice explores the depth of the relationship between pleasure and austerity in the context of today’s excessive consumption and waste production. Excess is envisioned as if in an evaporating state within the visual and economic culture.
In 2001, Vanila Netto completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) at the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales, Sydney, following which she received the university’s Australian Postgraduate Award. She was represented in the Helen Lempriere Travelling Art Scholarship in three consecutive years (2001-03) and was included in the 2003 Citigroup Private Bank Australian Photographic Portrait Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.
Vanila Netto was represented in 'Others’, curated by Judy Annear, Level 2 Contemporary Projects, Art Gallery of New South Wales (2002), and in ’2004: Australian Culture Now’, a collaborative project spearheaded by Charles Green at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne.
Netto’s work has been exhibited internationally in Spain, China and the United States. Her debut solo exhibition at Sherman Galleries in 2004 was followed by representation in the gallery’s group exhibition, 'MIX-ED: Diverse Practice and Geography’, curated by Simeon Kronenberg and held concurrently with the 2004 Biennale of Sydney.
In 2006 Netto won the Citigroup Australian Photographic Portrait Prize for her work The magnanimous beige wrap part 1 – (contraption).
In 2008 Netto held several solo exhibitions including 'Contagious’ at Melbourne’s Centre for Contemporary Photography, 'kissmisswillcall’ at BREENSPACE in Sydney and 'Communication by Contact’ at the Fremantle Art Centre in WA.
- Writers:
- Murray-Cree, Laura
- Date written:
- 2006
- Last updated:
- 2011
