Carl Scrase

Research Project

Melbourne based artist/activist/writer/social entrepreneur, Carl Scrase is at SymbioticA researching recent findings that suggest some people become more sensitive to social pain with a bacterial toxin that boosts inflammatory cytokine. In particular a cytokine called IL-6 that seems to boost activity in the brain region involved in empathy (Neuroimage, vol 47, p881).

Carl will be keeping a video diary throughout his time at SymbioticA. He will be musing and mussing over the links between science, art, memetics, politics, psychology, society and life in general.

http://www.symbiotica.uwa.edu.au/residents/carl-scrase

WEAUSTRALIANS.ORG (EST. 2010) IS A NEW ARTIST RUN INITIATIVE BASED IN MELBOURNE. PROMOTING ART THAT INCITES NEW WAYS OF REPRESENTING CON­TEM­POR­ARY AUS­TRALIA. SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ART THAT EMERGES FROM DIVERSE PRACTICES AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS. PRESENTING AN INCLUSIVE PLATFORM FOR PROGRESSIVE AND SOCIALLY ENGAGED ART. ENCOURAGING CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS THAT STIMULATE NEW ART AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION. FACILITATING VIBRANT DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE ARTS AND WIDER COMMUNITY.

The Wemakeus collective is an Australian based organisation that formed in 2010; our mission is to bring creative thinking into the fore of the public mind. We are building up a database of information on the links between: creativity, innovation, education, empathy, wisdom, science, psychology, politics, communication, the internet, the environment and hope.

We are working towards new ways of engaging all ages and all professions to think creatively; because we know it is vital to the prosperous survival of humanity as a whole. We believe a creative thought process gives you the ability to see a world of possibilities instead of a world of constants; this perspective, or lack of perspective, is affecting humanity in many negative and emotionally debilitating ways. Wemakeus is creating a vibrant community of passionate people that will implement exciting new initiatives across various platforms.

Carl “Synchronicity” Scrase (born Sept 12, 1983) is a Contemporary Artist, Writer, Philosopher, Curator, Social Entrepreneur, Facilitator and Consultant. He studied Fine Art at Monash University, graduating in 2008.


Carl received early recognition for his meticulously patterned found-object sculptures and psychedelic collages. During this period he showed extensively around Australia, having his first commercial solo art show in 2009 at the reputable John Buckley Gallery in Melbourne. He took part in the inaugural Splendid Arts Lab in 2009 and was commissioned to make an iconic 14 meter high Sculpture for the 2010 Splendour in the Grass music festival, the sculpture has since toured to Lismore and Perth.


Carl’s creative practice became notably more cross disciplinary in 2010, with large scale works for Next Wave Festival and Art Month Sydney. Carl further expanded his creative practice late in 2010, when he denounced the title artist, in favour of the title ‘social engineer’. 2011 saw Carl develop the Social Engineering Research Initiative (S.E.R.I.), co-found the Wemakeus Collective, take part in the prestigious Young Social Pioneers program and become politically active as a media team member of Occupy Melbourne.


2012 will see Carl running for Mayor of Melbourne.

Fine Arts in Fine Arts

Diploma of Visual Arts 2003

Certificate 4 in Business 2011

CARL SCRASE

2011 Fellowship - Young Social Pioneers 2009 Fellowship - Splendid Art Lab Carl has received various prestigious awards and grants including the New Work Grant by the Australia Council, the City of Melbourne Presentation Grant, the St Michael Art Prize, Freedman Foundation Schoolarship, CAL Cultural Fund and the Michael Schwarz Travel Award.

Research Areas: Empathy, Joseph Beuys, Social Sculpture, Direct Democracy, Deliberative Democracy and Strategic Foresight. Personal Assets: Associative Thinking, Fluid Reasoning, High Verbal Abilities, Foresight and Delegation. Work Skills: Small Business Management, Funding Application, Team Management, Sales, Collaboration and Social Media.