A major survey exhibition of this influential Australian duo, including works from 15 years of collective practice, workshops, forums, events, and happenings.
ACW believe in the notion of collectivity. They encourage exchange of ideas and embrace the idea of chaos. Their approach finds a theoretical home in post-situationist, relational aesthetics. ACW have an overriding, abiding sense of optimism for the possibility of the creative collective devoid of hierarchies. They work against this by being not ‘one’, but a small dis-unit. ‘Stay in Groups’ ‘No need to be Great’ are ACW’s mottos for avoiding the ego-conscious trap.
During the exhibition a lot of people embraced the concept of increasing their uncertainty, as the title of ACW’s survey encouraged. They sang out loud in the Complaints Choir: a joyous and evidently popular expression of grumbles and gripes; a two-way exchange of good feeling between singers and audience. People permitted themselves to enter into the unknown in the Social Contract room, and signed away their opportunity for the cathartic exchange of reactions with others (one of the contradictions in an exhibition encouraging exchange of ideas).
Exhibiting Artists: Jacqui Riva and Geoff Lowe with The Complaints Choir, Truck dancers (Olivia Barrett and James Deutsher), forum participants and live actors
Commissioning Curator: Juliana Engberg
Coordinating Curator: Anna MacDonald
Publication
A Constructed World: Increase your Uncertainty
In the Press
31 May, Metro News & Reviews, Constructing an inclusive world
1 June, Herald Sun, Many hands make art work
7 June, The Australian, So what do you think’s going on?
June-July, Artlink, Increase your uncertainty
June-July, Broadsheet, Conversing with A Constructed World
November, Art Monthly Australia, Increasing Your Uncertainty: A Constructed World in Melbourne
Other Material
Events Program
