Days in Doreen (workshop for a singer and mechanic) 2025

wood, LED light, jars, growing Borax crystals, Gatorade, kerosene, engine and bilge degreaser, lace, opalescent paint with aquarium motor, salt, beads, glass μάτι, exhaust pipe, tools and other materials from Matthew Cassar’s workshop

750.0 x 210.0 x 120.0 cm

Artist: Tina Stefanou

Production designer: Romanie Harper

Consulting producer: Anna Nalpantidis

Commissioned by Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, with support from Creative Australia, Arts House and Yamaha 

Days in Doreen (workshop for a singer and mechanic) 2025 is a site of exploration and exchange, labour, and transformation, set within the unique intersection of mechanical work and vocal techniques. This workshop brings together the worlds of the mechanic, Matthew Cassar, and the singer, Tina Stefanou, creating a space where knowledge is shared, skills are honed, and new understandings emerge. In this collaborative space, the mechanic teaches the singer the intricate art of dirt bike maintenance, while the singer guides the mechanic through the mechanisms of voice.

Within this workshop, every object is charged with potential — whether stationary or in motion. The tools of the mechanic and the instruments of the singer are not simply functional objects; they are vessels of energy, waiting for the moment of activation. Each item holds the rush of time, always on its way to repair, move, or rest. These processes of restoration and transformation echo the way in which both the dirt bike and the voice require constant attention, tuning, and nurturing to remain functional and dynamic.