GROUP EXHIBITIONS

This exhibition brings together a diverse range of artists from the Sawtooth ARI community that use irony as a tool to explore and comment on the complexities of contemporary life. From playful and humorous to biting and critical, the works in this exhibition demonstrate the power of irony to challenge societal norms and provoke critical reflection.

It’s like rain on your wedding day
It’s a free ride when you’ve already paid
It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take
And who would’ve thought… it figures
– Alanis Morissette

In a world that often feels paradoxical and contradictory, irony offers a way to make sense of the complexities of contemporary life. The Sawtooth ARI artists in this exhibition use irony to subvert expectations and reveal the contradictions that exist within our society, culture, and politics. Through their works, they invite us to question our assumptions and consider new perspectives, often through a lens of humor or playfulness.

Whether it’s the use of irony to critique consumer culture, challenge gender norms, or comment on the state of our political climate, the works in “Isn’t it Ironic” demonstrate the power of art to provoke critical reflection and engage viewers in a dialogue about the world around us. Through their use of irony, these artists offer a way to make sense of the contradictions and complexities of contemporary life, inviting us to see the world in a new light. 

(This text has been generated via collaboration between curator Zara Sully and chatGPT).
Artists: Anna Barber, Ben Barwick, Clara Martin, Olly Read & Blacklight
Curated by Zara Sully
THE BARN @ ROSNY FARM
17 MAY - 11 JUNE 2023
11am-5pm Wed-Sun

In an era where visual communication reigns supreme, the artists featured in the exhibition SURFACE are going beyond superficial allure. Their works aim to challenge what may seem deceptively straightforward by exploring the underlying depths and complexities beneath the surface.

Artists: Archie Barker, Chloe Bonney, Elizabeth Braid, Jade Elford, Lorene Jade, Olly Read and Hope Smith 
Curator: Ellina Evans
Photo credit: Kelly Slater

Involvement

Curated by Jessie Pangas

Every artist represented in this exhibition lives and works in regional Tasmania. From the Southern Midlands to King Island they are representative of the wealth of dedicated and talented artists living all around us. Hidden in the hills, forests and sleepy coastal towns of this island state their work is formed and inspired by the places they call home.

Commission in celebration of the opening of the new RANT Arts Headquarters and Creative Space in Devonport, this exhibition celebrates the cultural legacy and renewal of this site as the home of Devonport’s creative community, the commitment of the exhibiting artist to the places they live and work, and offers an invitation to us all to get involved.

‘Velvet Flesh’, 2021, wood, crushed velour, staples, polyfill stuffing, foam

‘The Skin Live In’, 2021, fabric, cotton thread, timbre, metal hinges and brackets. each frame: 180x 45 x 4cm

2019 Contemporary Art Tasmania Members Exhibition

23 November - 15 December 2019

‘Hung and Drawn’, 2018, balsa, nylon, plastic thread, approx. 100 x 50 x 15 cm