The Working Life + Sciencefictive

Overview

Opening this weekend at Fortitude Valley's Institute of Modern Art are two large-scale exhibitions of different intent and form.

Brisbane-born artist Gary Carsley has put together an exhibition that blends art and nature in a wonderful display of interactive installation art. Blending indoor and outdoor space, Sciencefictive encompasses two gallery spaces in which audiences can wander through, viewing garden scenes through custom-made apertures, called ‘Moongates’. Each nature scene encourages reflection and ponders the relationship between natural spaces and how it can mesh with our social settings.

The Working Life is an ensemble exhibition, with works from numerous artists. It is a reflective series examining the effects of personal troubles and large-scale social calamities. These micro and macro examinations showcase a renewed interest in the aspect of labour and its importance to communities and interpersonal relationships. These international and Australian artists have crafted these works in the years post the financial crisis and utilise film and performance techniques to bring each artistic vision to the fore. The Working Life analyses corporate hypocrisy, fraud and injustice in an effort to create dialogue on the issues surrounding working life.

The Working Life features art by Richard Bell, Andrea Fraser, Marianne Flotron, Melanie Gilligan, Jesse Jones, Darius Mikšys, Stuart Ringholt, and Copenhagen-based artist collective, Superflex. The exhibition was curated by Aileen Burns and Johan Lundh.

Both exhibitions will open on Saturday, May 31, with special preview drinks at 4pm for IMA members only, followed by a talk by exhibiting artist Gary Carsley.