You are warmly invited to the opening night of a group exhibition curated by Lachlan Bell opening on the 10th April 6-8:30pm. “One Hand Cannot Clap Alone”, exhibiting at Comber St Studios in Paddington, is a gathering, a sharing of burdens, a responsibility, a dedication and a veneration to a continuum of interconnected experiences and overlapping timelines inviting viewers to consider who and what connects our past to our future/s.
“One Hand Cannot Clap Alone” showcases the works of 18 artists and groups whose artistic practices are attentive to familial networks, ancestral memory and collective making. Exploring personal legacies, heirlooms, and familial mythologies, the artists in the exhibition through film, textiles, sound, sculpture and jewellery push through mixed feelings of joy, grief, love and hope. The show features the work of three Estonian artists: Olev Muska, Vella Pihlak and Aksel Haagensen and the opening night performances includes a singing performance by ‘Perekolmik’ (a family trio consisting of Siiri Iismaa, Kieran Scott and Ella Scott).
Dissolving boundaries between artist and muse to form a common labour of love, in this interdependent symphony we witness a convergence of past, present, and the dreams of a future yet to arrive. For an artist – like the clapping hand – requires a counterpart, be it a muse, a collaborator, or the collective whispers of generations past. Together they create a resonance far more profound than solitary applause.
Grounding this show is the exploration and provocation of ethics surrounding non-exploitative communal labour and a call towards opacity in the arts when approaching topics of grief and lamentation. Furthermore, a question is presented to the audience: how can we move beyond the footnote when acknowledging those who help us get here?
Curated by Lachlan Bell with assistance from Courtney Bowd, the show features both archival and contemporary work from emerging and established artists connected to Warrane/Sydney and to the University of New South Wales. Throughout the duration of the show, a series of activations and participatory workshops will afford new ways for audiences to expand on the themes of collaboration touched on by works in the show.
Venue: Comber St Studios, 5 Comber St, Paddington NSW 2021
Opening Night: Wednesday 10th April (6pm – 8:30pm)
Exhibition Duration: 11 – 17 April (Open daily, 10am – 5pm)
Participating artists & performers:
- Tamara Elkins
- Leila Frijat
- Aksel Haagensen
- Perekolmik ‘Family Trio’ (Siiri Iismaa, Kieran Scott, Ella Scott)
- String Club (Astrid Bell, David Suyasa, Kata Szász-Komlós)
Curators:
- Lachlan Bell
- Courtney Bowd
Access information: Large font and easy English catalogues, audio descriptions, close to a bus stop on Oxford St with limited parking options on nearby streets. The walk from Oxford St to Comber Street Studios has a downwards elevation of 10m and a small pedestrian footpath. The Loading Dock, open for the Opening Night is wheelchair accessible, however the Front Room, Middle Room and Bathroom are not wheelchair accessible due to steps. Some works featured in the show explore themes including death.
