Bonnie Lane, The People's Paradise, 2011, fish tank, vinyl prints, wood, mice, 30 x 61 x 31cm
It is not nirvana. It is not heaven. It is not utopia. The paradise fantasy is grounded in the tangible world, the idyllic landscape of regenerative virgin earth in which one does not need to work. But is this an unattainable dream of the past? Is the mythified period of paradise as it was originally conceived of over, and if so, what kind of contemporary paradise can we hope for, or is one even possible?
paradise…a hell of a place presents eleven Australian and international artists seeking the contemporary relevance of a word that has been reconceived perpetually throughout history. Utilising the diverse media of sculpture, installation, photography, film, animation, drawing and painting, these artists guide/direct us through personal and universal encounters with paradise.
Artists: Brad Haylock, Bonnie Lane, Christopher Koller, Sarah Berners, Deborah Kelly, Natascha Stellmach, Michael Wegerer, The Sisters Hayes, Paolo Consorti, Simon MacEwan, Andy Hutson
