Nightshifts

Curated by Hannah Presley and Annika Aitken, nightshifts looks to the ‘after hours’ as a metaphor to explore the potentially generative qualities of rest, privacy and temporary seclusion from peers and the public. Spanning a range of themes, histories and media, the exhibition offers a meditative counterpoint to the recurring emphasis on light and collaboration in art making and contemporary curatorial practice.

The exhibition offers a conceptual exploration of the work and deep thinking that happens away from the public eye: unseen moments alone in the studio, during the quiet of the night, and subconsciously while asleep. Rather than focusing on notions of loneliness or despair, the works demonstrate the fertile aspects of solo practice and the meditative, flow-like work states and the periods of quiet and downtime that naturally follow the completion of projects. Meditation through arts practice is explored through works where breathing and mark-making are inextricably linked, and an investigation of Deep Listening demonstrates the power of singular focus to sharpen attention and reveal things ‘unseen’. The physical journey through the exhibition moves through subtle transitions in light, colour and sound, evoking the shift from dusk to dawn.

nightshifts provides new points of access to works in the University of Melbourne collections, including celebrated artists Shaun Gladwell, Tracey Moffatt, Callum Morton, Mike Parr, Mikala Dwyer, Teelah George, Marco Fusinato, Mabel Juli, Louise Weaver and Peter Booth. In addition, a number of commissions and loans have been selected to extend the exhibition themes.

“Annika and I were keen to consider the Buxton and wider Melbourne University collections through a different lens. We began by examining the work of artists who have created their most enigmatic work through solo studio practice and extended this investigation to encompass artists exploring the creatively abundant qualities of time spent alone. It was important to us to embrace the potential for solitude to be a positive and productive mechanism of artistic practice.” Hannah Presley, Senior Curator, Museums and Collections

Also in the exhibition are some selected new works including:

●  Canberra-based artist Lisa Sammut’s new large-scale sculptural and moving image installation that connects cosmic and human timescales through the orbit of Halley’s Comet coinciding with an average human lifespan.

●  Gunditjmara and Keerray Woorroong artist Dr Vicki Couzens’ collaboration with Rob Bundle to present First Sound, First Light, an immersive soundscape drawing on the Indigenous concept of Deep Listening, utilising vocalisations, sounds and imagery from Country.

“We have worked with Lisa Sammut, Dr Vicki Couzens and Rob Bundle to present two exciting new commissions for nightshifts. These works create space for pause and contemplation within the exhibition, and are supported by a responsive design that moves through subtle transitions in light, colour, and sound — evoking the shift from dusk to dawn.” Annika Aitken, Curator, Museums and Collections said