Cecelia Marmont
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Cecelia Marmont is an Australia artist born in Bowral, 1982.
She studied jewelry making for a time at Sturt, Mittagong in 2002 and then Ceramics at the same institute in 2004. From 2006-2007 She completed a Certificate IV Fine Arts at TAFE, Illawarra Institute, Moss Vale campus.
Cecelia participated in “Surface Marc's” the Certificate IV Fine Arts student exhibition 2007. She then spent a short time at the end of 2007 traveling around South East Asia.
In 2010, she would then join fellow TAFE students in a group exhibition “Between the Lines”
Cecelia is currently exhibiting in the charity exhibition “Project Orangutan” 2014.
ARTIST'S REASON FOR PARTICIPATING
Taking part in “Project Orangutan” has made me very aware of the mindless choices that we as individuals make, and how those choices on mass, collectively can be catastrophic.
By consciously connecting with a cause such as this, I have change the ingrained, short sighted (or shelf sighted) mindset that I have grown up with which blindly trusts the products we consume.
Ignorance my be bliss, but it is also unwittingly damaging. By making informed choices we can help restore balance where needed.
MONA
The Escape Artist with a Taste for Biscuits and a Nose for Mischief
Mona arrived at the International Animal Rescue (IAR) Centre in Ketapang in January 2009 as a young orphan, just around one year old. She had been kept as a pet by a family who tied her to a metal collar and chain in their garden. The heavy collar had to be forcibly removed during her rescue—an early sign of the mistreatment she had endured. Due to an overflow of orangutans in nearby rehabilitation centres, Mona remained at the transit centre longer than most, quickly becoming one of the longest-term residents and the centre’s most seasoned escape artist.
In her early days at IAR, Mona made quite a name for herself. She cleverly opened her cage on several occasions and even masterminded an infamous group escape that ended in a raid on the food room—an incident that revealed both her intelligence and her unshakable memory. When Mona was finally moved to the newly completed quarantine enclosure at Sungai Awan, she was the first to be anesthetised, as she was already wise to unusual activities. Always suspicious of change, she required a blow dart, while her cage mates—Cinta, Huta, and Meli—accepted their injections willingly.
Mona adapted quickly to her new, spacious enclosure. Within hours, she had explored every inch of it, testing its structural integrity with the same determination she once applied to locks and latches. Her curiosity and resourcefulness have never waned. One day, she even stole a cup of electrolytes from a vet, only to use it thoughtfully—to dunk her biscuits like a true connoisseur.
Known for her observant nature and problem-solving abilities, Mona frequently uses sticks and enrichment items as makeshift tools in attempts to open her enclosure. She mimics human behaviors too, often seen washing her arms in a water bin.
Today, Mona shares her space with fellow long-timer Nicky and enjoys spying on neighbors Jojo and Jingo. Though she hasn’t joined their antics just yet, her eyes never stop watching. With her bright mind, unique habits, and undeniable charm, Mona remains a much-loved and unforgettable character at the IAR Centre—proof that even the longest journeys can still lead to brighter futures.
