BACKFLIP: Feminism and Humour in Contemporary Art Exhibition
Opening: Friday 26 April, 6–8pm
Exhibition Dates: 27 April to 25 May 2013
Catherine Bell, Melanie Bonajo, Brown Council, Catherine or Kate, Patty Chang, Guerrilla Girls, Hotham Street Ladies, Alice Lang, Louise Lawler, Tracey Moffatt, Nat & Ali, Frances (Budden) Phoenix, Pushpamala N, Hannah Raisin, Pipilotti Rist, Mika Rottenberg, Christian Thompson and Paul Yore. Curator: Laura Castagnini.
Featuring work by Australian and international artists, BACKFLIP: Feminism and Humour in Contemporary Art seeks to challenge the ongoing stereotype of feminism as dry, dull and humourless. The exhibition affirms laughter as an important and potent tool for feminist artists across generations, geographies and political contexts. Humour has a unique ability to simultaneously disrupt and entertain, and lends itself readily to one of the overarching goals that unites the many feminisms; namely, to critique and destabilize patriarchy. Following on from last year’s lecture by the Guerrilla Girls, BACKFLIP will present a range of strategies and approaches from slapstick to satire, detouring through irony and black humour.
BACKFLIP: Public Events Panel 1: Acting Out (Linda Sproul, Nat & Ali, Hannah Raisin): Thursday 2 May, 6-8pm Panel 2: What’s So Funny? (Catriona Moore, Catherine Bell and others): Thursday 9 May, 6-8pm Feminist Art Reading Group (New members welcome): Thursday 16 May, 6-8pm Performance event and closing drinks (Atlanta Eke, I’m Trying to Kiss You, Mish Grigor and others): Thursday 23 May, 6-8pm
Venue: Margaret Lawrence Gallery Victorian College of the Arts 40 Dodds Street, Southbank 3006 Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 12:00pm – 5:00pm
