Residual

Raised in Far North Queensland and now studying Visual Arts at QUT, emerging multimedia artist Kelsey Woods explores the intricate relationship between healthcare and the female body, describing her investigation as the Medicalised Feminine. In the slow-moving, intimate video Residual (2024), collected objects serve as visual metaphors, delicately drawing from experiences of disability and chronic illness. Fluid, transparent shades of dye within opaque liquid creates a nuanced and moving composition. This video reflects the clinical experiences of post-surgical patients, with objects such as fingers, an ID wristband, empty medication packets, and non-slip socks hidden in an alluring, sumptuous, opaque vision. Through a game of conceal and reveal Residual quietly critiques the systemic and gendered neglect in the medical industry, underscoring the insufficient research that has long shadowed women’s health. The work subtly weaves together broader dynamics of identity, health, and socio-political structures through a feminist lens.