10 Out of 10

As it celebrates its 10th birthday, inner-city art institution MOP is, as usual, ahead of the pack.
Roslyn Helper
March 11, 2013

Overview

An ancient NASA flag from the future, Madonna dancing Gangnam Style, two guys in masks eating steak with books under their armpits and a wall-mounted house made out of white Lego are just some of the things you will see at MOP's 10 out of 10.

Since 2003, MOP has acted as a career springboard for local emerging and mid-career artists. MOP was originally located in a rag trade warehouse in Redfern. The sleek, white-walled Abercrombie Street gallery that now houses up to 35 exhibitions a year is testament to the dedication that's been poured into 'The Little Independent Gallery That Could'. Now it's 10 years old.

Whilst most kids these days may get high on Coke Zero, ask for the latest smart phone and play "pin the nearest adult store on the Google Map" on their 10th birthdays, MOP, as usual, is ahead of the pack. Looking to their elders, this 10-year anniversary celebration is happening as part of Art Month and showcases 10 established artists with strong ties to the gallery, including Mitch Cairns, Newell Harry, Emma White, Christopher Hanrahan, Gemma Smith, Daniel Mudie Cunningham, Ms&Mr, Adam Norton and Rob McHaffie.

The exhibition traverses the aesthetically pleasant (the handmade paper used for Harry's Diptych: Indifference and Circularity is laden with the character, mystique and the softness of a grandma's wrinkled cheeks) to the downright strange (why is there a video collage of a woman wearing braces and underpants singing the scandalous 1984 French pop song 'Lemon Incest' to her son/ husband?).

Some questions are better left unanswered, but in answer to the question, should you go see it? It's an easy yes.

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