Sergio Redegalli

Sergio Redegalli
Born 1962
Nationality Australian
Education Sydney College of the Arts
Known for Glass artist
Notable work Cascade World Expo 1988
Awards Queen Scout – 1st North Epping
1980
Website http://www.cydoniaglass.com.au/

Sergio Redegalli is an Australian glass artist specialising in glass sculptures. He is an owner of the Cydonia Glass Studio located in Newtown, New South Wales. Redegalli graduated from Sydney College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Arts Glass (Visual Arts) in 1984 and a Graduate Diploma – Glass Visual Arts in 1988.[1] Whilst attending college, Redegalli has claimed, he was the subject of victimisation at the hands of "man hating lesbians".[2] His glass sculpture Cascade was commissioned for the World Expo in Brisbane in 1988. This massive 12 ton sculpture in the shape of a cascading wave is on display in Adelaide Botanic Garden, Adelaide.[3]

Cascade glass sculpture by Sergio Redegalli, in the Adelaide Botanic Garden

Boards

Exhibitions

Political work

Redegalli is critical of cultural pluralism within contemporary Australian society which he claims has come about due to "the stupidity of multiculturalism".[4] In particular Redegalli is critical of Australian Muslims, of whom he has stated:

  "it is very difficult for anyone who is Muslim to fit into any society, in truth, because sooner or later, if there’s enough people that want to instigate Islam in its most common form, it naturally then clashes with the host society, full stop, it’s been proven through history".[4]

In September 2010 Redegalli painted a mural on his outer studio wall of a woman in a full-face Muslim covering with a strike symbol over her face and the words Say No To Burqas. The mural, visible from major train lines, has been defaced with paint countless times by protesters. Redegalli has claimed to have the support of the Marrickville community "10 to one".[5] Community leaders have condemned the mural and former Mayor Sam Iskandar has stated that the mural, "goes against the values which the Marrickville community has believed in and practiced for generations".[5]

In December 2010, members of the far right political group, the Australian Protectionist Party, described in an Australian Newspaper headline as “anti Islamist”, were encouraged to meet at the mural after being contacted by Redegalli.[6][7] The intention was counteract a planned anti mural protest by persons whom Redegalli labelled as ‘socialists’ and ‘renters’.[8] The resultant protest lead to the arrest of seven anti-mural protesters.[9]

A complaint was lodged by a local Muslim woman with the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board claiming that the mural is feeding racist and sexist attitudes. The supporters of the mural have voiced their concerns about security and the rise of Islamic extremism in Australia.[10][11]

In a February 2012 radio interview Redegalli argued that Burqas are dangerous to wear while driving, and allow wearers to conceal their identities. To demonstrate his claims, Redegalli said that he had driven a car in a Burqa, and had gone to inappropriate locations including a female public toilet with other large men, without being challenged. Redegalli was criticized by a caller during the interview, who told Redegalli to "get a life" and suggested that Redegalli's motivation was less about the burqa and more about putting himself "in the spotlight".[12][13] Redegalli reacted by dismissing the criticism as a "typical Muslim rant".[13][14]

Redegalli and his mural were featured on episode 1 of the ABC television program, Dumb, Drunk & Racist on 20 June 2012. While being interviewed, Redegalli was heckled by a passer-by offended by the artwork.[15]

On 27 October 2014, Redegalli and two other members of the group, Faceless attempted to enter the federal parliament house wearing a Ku Klux Klan mask, full-face Muslim covering and a motorcycle helmet. [16] Redegalli, who was wearing the Ku Klux Klan mask told the media "If you are a Muslim female, you're allowed to have totally separate set of rules than the rest of others, it's strange." He also said the group does not support or condone the actions of the Ku Klux Klan.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Sergio Redegalli". Glass Artists’ Gallery. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  2. ↑ Redegalli, Sergio (13 March 2012). Face Value, a profile of Sergio Redegalli. Interview with Peter Hughes. Face Value. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "Sergio Redegalli". Vitria Gallery. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  4. 1 2 Redegalli, Sergio (13 March 2012). Face Value, a profile of Sergio Redegalli. Interview with Peter Hughes. Face Value. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Anti burqa mural vandalised in Newtown". LAUREN MURADA (Inner West Courier). 23 September 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  6. ↑ "Police on guard as anti islamists stage protest". Sallie Don (The Australian). 5 July 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  7. ↑ "leftwing extremists declare war on our freedom of speech". Australian Protectionist Party (Australian Protectionist Party). 17 December 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  8. ↑ "leftwing extremists declare war on our freedom of speech". Australian Protectionist Party (Australian Protectionist Party). 17 December 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  9. ↑ "arrests after protests at anti-burqa mural in newtown". Kim Shaw (Inner West Courier). 17 January 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  10. ↑ "Complaint lodged over burqa mural". Josephine Tovey (smh). 26 November 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  11. ↑ "Sydney artist rips the lid off controversial cover-up". Henry Budd and Steven Deeks (Daily Telegraph). 24 September 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  12. ↑ "Redegalli podcast". 2GB Radio. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  13. 1 2 "One man's crusade for a ban on the burqa". 2GB Radio. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  14. ↑ "Sergio Redegallis Chamber (pot) of Secrets". You said it. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  15. ↑ "The personal is political in two new series". The Australian. 16 June 2012.
  16. ↑ Cullen, Simon (2014-10-27). "Men wearing Ku Klux Klan outfit, motorbike helmet and niqab try to enter Parliament House in Canberra". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  17. ↑ "KKK, burqa, bikie men attempt to enter Parliament". news.com.au. 2014-10-27.

External links

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