History
un Magazine has been published in Melbourne since 2004, making it the longest running art magazine in the city. At the time it was founded by artist Lily Hibberd, there were no other local publications covering the wealth of independent, contemporary art practice happening in Melbourne. In the founding editorial, Lily wrote about un Magazine as a tribute to the talent and dedication of Australian artists. She outlined a mission to ‘provide a discourse for work that is not normally reviewed’ and for ‘emerging and established writers to publish unpredictable articles and to create an archive for our time.’
Moving to an annually-appointed editor model since 2008, the magazine has given voice to hundreds of Australian writers and artists, and provided the kind of open platform for discussion and criticism that is vital to a thriving and serious art community. With a focus on artists, writers, artist-run initiatives and independent projects, un Magazine publishes essays, interviews, artists’ work and reviews, in print and online.
While remaining independent – un Magazine is published by un Projects, a non-profit collective of artists, writers and editors – the magazine fundraises for support for each issue and is committed to paying fees to contributors. Each issue is inspired by and largely, created by, the grassroots communities of independent contemporary artists and writers in Australia.
Past projects
STUDIO »
An artist interview series, speaking with artists about their process and practice. This series aims to be reflective and responsive to current conversations within contemporary art and more broadly. With a focus on Australian artists STUDIO makes accessible conversations that happen in the studio; creating an archive that links generations, highlights crossovers and examines different disciplines.
un Anthology »
A compendium of articles, essays, reviews and artist pages sA compendium of articles, essays, reviews and artist pages selected from a decade of publishing, un Anthology offers a unique take on Australia’s independent contemporary art scene. Featuring hundreds of artists and writers from un Magazine’s archive plus new commissions from Lily Hibberd and Kelly Fliedner, Anthony Gardner, Justin Clemens, Bianca Hester, and Lisa Radford, the book is co-edited by Ulanda Blair, Rosemary Forde and Phip Murray.
un retrospective »
un Projects’ contribution to Melbourne Now, the National Galley of Victoria’s massive exhibition celebrating the latest art, architecture, design, performance and cultural practice. un Retrospective was exhibited from November 2013 and February 2014.
Subtext »
A two-part project investigating the manifold approaches to writing undertaken by artists in their practice.
The initial phase of Subtext, in June 2010, was a day-long symposium of discussions by artists, with Martha Rosler as keynote speaker. The second phase of Subtext was an exhibition at West Space, organised by a curatorium of un Projects members, held in February 2011.
