ART-PRESENTATION: Perspectives On Art And Feminism
Australian Centre’s for Contemporary Art (ACCA) presents an ongoing series of exhibitions under the name “The Big Picture” conceived to animate critical, albeit under-represented, practices and debates within contemporary Australian art and society. The series started with the exhibition “Sovereignty” (17/12/16-26/3/17), focusing upon contemporary art of First Nations peoples of South East Australia. The second exhibition is the series is entitled “Perspectives on art and feminism”.
By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: ACCA Archive
Feminism’s influence on art and society has dramatically reshaped contemporary art in Australia, it is now fifty years since Vivienne Binns’ legendary 1967 exhibition “Vag Dens” at Watters Gallery in Sydney introduced central core imagery into the visual lexicon, critically affirming the power of women’s sexuality. “Unfinished Business: Perspectives on art and feminism” is a major exhibition conceived to animate critical, albeit under-represented, practices and debates within contemporary Australian art and society. Presenting the work of 81 artists and surveying the diverse scope of feminist art practices, including: painting, performance, photography and film to community engagement and cultural activism, the exhibition focuses upon the dynamic formal invention and social engagement of feminist artists. It explores strategies and analyses of gender identity and representation, intersectional politics, and practices which embrace performative codes, text and media technologies, humour and critique. Adopting a collaborative, polyphonic form which encourages diverse voices, practices and debates, the exhibition presents new commissions and recent work alongside selected historical projects, programs of film and performance, and a publication with contributions by art historians, artists and theorists from the 1970s to the present. “Things learnt about feminism #1 – #95” (2014) by Kelly Doley, investigates the tropes and cliches of the political poster and celebrates the strength and diversity of feminism today. In 2012 the artist initiated the project “The Learning Centre: Two Feminists”, inviting 16 participants from different backgrounds to teach her about feminism. Thoughts, facts and ideas from these conversations were translated into 95 hand-painted posters, transforming the live encounter between the artist and participant into an archive of feminist thought and history. Other works on presentation are Maria Kozic’s“Bitch” billboard posters from ‘90s which are considered classics. The artist has, since the late ‘70s, been one of Australia’s most diverse and innovative artists, with her work including: photography, film, video, music, sculpture, painting, posters and installation. Trans-generational legacies, inheritances and shifts are explored alongside contemporary conditions and urgencies related to the representation of women in media and society, the perpetuation of violence against women, ideas of feminist subjectivity, and the transformative potential of intersectional identities and being. The exhibition also includes a film program and is accompanied by an extensive program of talks, performances, symposium and community events running throughout the exhibition.
Info: Curatorial Team: Max Delany, Annika Kristensen, Paola Balla, Julie Ewington, Vikki McInnes and Elvis Richardson, Film Program Curatorial Team: Helen Grace, Femflix, Kym Maxwell and Laura Castagnini, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, 111 Sturt Street, Southbank, Melbourne, Duration: 15/12/17-25/3/18, Days & Hours: Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 11:00-17:00, http://acca.melbourne
