A History of Happiness brought together works by international artists to evoke the quixotic nature of the pursuit of happiness in all its manifestations, from sex to serenity. Using the new large spaces of ACCA, the exhibition created an itinerary of discovery with works such as Barbara Kruger’s collage stating: ‘Your pleasure is short lived and spasmodic’ – perhaps capturing the essence of happiness itself: a fleeting feeling of euphoria that is momentarily graspable, but then evaporates into the general miasma of ennui.
The exhibition was presented as part of the 2002 Melbourne Festival Visual Arts Program.
Exhibiting Artists: Aleks Danko, Nan Goldin, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Jenny Holzer, Barbara Kruger, Peter Land, Robert Mapplethorpe, Yoko Ono, Robert Owen, Yoshihiro Suda
Curator: Juliana Engberg
Publication
Melbourne Visual Arts Program
In the Press
18 September, Dramatic Online, ACCA’s new home sees history in the making
21 October, The Age, A mound of sadness could just well be your hill of joy
23 October, The Age, House-painting and the pursuit of happiness
23 October, The Age, Melbourne Festival review
26 October, The Age, Individual, moody and seductive
ACCA Press Release
Other Material
Education Kit