UNConditional
FOYER GALLERY, TUGGERANONG ARTS CENTRE, CANBERRA, 7 FEBRUARY - 6 APRIL 2025
‘unconditional’ examines love in all of its many forms… joyful yet painful, life-affirming yet difficult, diverse yet universal to the human condition.
Come to the upcoming exhibition 'Unconditional' and explore the many nuances of love and how - whilst love can bring joy and happiness - it has a deeper, more self-reflective side: a truly complex emotion. The diversity of exhibition works and subjects will reflect the multiple qualities of love - images will use photography, painting, charcoal, digital media, ink on wood, and 3D installation.
'Unconditional' will argue that we are all different yet united by love - partners (wherever they are on the rainbow), parents and children, an indigenous person for Country, a nurse and patient, an owner for their dog, bittersweet memories of friendships lost etc.
The Exhibition will refamiliarize love, reclaiming its depictions in modern media. Too often love is portrayed as over-sentimental and unrealistically romantic (though there is always room for romance!) or focused on tragedy and heartbreak, to highlight admittedly important social issues.
Love is becoming stifled by trends equating love with over-dependence or inequality in a society that increasingly equates living alone as empowering. We are losing our awareness of its value and power, and an underlying theme of the Exhibition will examine both the positives and pitfalls of opening up one's personal and intimate emotions to public scrutiny through art.
John Brookes of Canberry Arts, the artist, states: “This Exhibition is important as there is still room for genuine feelings of love in an increasingly isolated society. One that interacts remotely through social media and technology. Love is fundamental in making us human, and we need to preserve it whilst embracing new technologies, cultural and identity politics.
“I hope you find connection somewhere in these works and if not, simply enjoy the artwork.
“Thankyou for coming…
“I love you”.
'Unconditional' will argue that we are all different yet united by love - partners (wherever they are on the rainbow), parents and children, an indigenous person for Country, a nurse and patient, an owner for their dog, bittersweet memories of friendships lost etc.
The Exhibition will refamiliarize love, reclaiming its depictions in modern media. Too often love is portrayed as over-sentimental and unrealistically romantic (though there is always room for romance!) or focused on tragedy and heartbreak, to highlight admittedly important social issues.
Love is becoming stifled by trends equating love with over-dependence or inequality in a society that increasingly equates living alone as empowering. We are losing our awareness of its value and power, and an underlying theme of the Exhibition will examine both the positives and pitfalls of opening up one's personal and intimate emotions to public scrutiny through art.
John Brookes of Canberry Arts, the artist, states: “This Exhibition is important as there is still room for genuine feelings of love in an increasingly isolated society. One that interacts remotely through social media and technology. Love is fundamental in making us human, and we need to preserve it whilst embracing new technologies, cultural and identity politics.
“I hope you find connection somewhere in these works and if not, simply enjoy the artwork.
“Thankyou for coming…
“I love you”.
Soundtrack - "Three Scarlet Words" album by Christine Corau, 2024. Reproduced with kind permission of the artist.