The same crowd never gathers twice — Buxton Contemporary Gallery

Overview

Art galleries often focus on making you think about what you are looking at, but not every exhibition makes you think about why you came to look at art in the first place. That's the idea behind The same crowd never gathers twice, a six-month exhibition program at Buxton Contemporary, a public art gallery on the Southbank Campus of the University of Melbourne.

This exhibition, running until Sunday, October 13, uses moving images, sound, sculpture and performance to test the limits of the 'arena', i.e. the setting where humans gather to witness and participate in public life. Are you a passive spectator, watching from afar? Or do you prefer to take a more close-up and involved role? There's room for both in this program.

Installation view of The same crowd never gathers twice, Buxton Contemporary, the University of Melbourne, 2024. Featuring Cate Consandine, RINGER 2024. Courtesy of the artist and Sarah Scout Presents. Photography by Christian Capurro.

Said program includes the premiere of Ringer, a multi-channel film by Melbourne artist Cate Consandine; Assembled Audience, an Australian sound installation debut from NYC-based artist Taryn Simon; Body Loss, a performance piece from Sydney-based dancer and choreographer Angela Goh; and a site-specific commission for Buxton's heritage gallery by NZ-based artist Yona Lee and much more.

'The same crowd never gathers twice' is taking over Buxton Contemporary Gallery from Wednesdays to Sundays until Sunday, October 13. The exhibition is free to enter. For more information, visit the website.

Top image: Installation view of 'The same crowd never gathers twice', Buxton Contemporary, the University of Melbourne, 2024. Featuring Riana Head-Toussaint, 'Animate Loading 1' 2022. Courtesy of the artist. Photography by Christian Capurro.