When you wear the mask, the mask becomes you

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Curated by:

Arts Project Australia

For those of us living in Melbourne, Australia the second lockdown in as many months is challenging. We thought we'd permanently emerged from our home-caves and had begun adjusting to a new normal, only to take a step back and return, once again, to relative isolation. While gleefully patting ourselves on the back for a job well done in June, by July we'd let our guard down. With our tail between our legs, we've had to admit we're not quite as immune or good as we thought we were.

Meanwhile, a debate has proliferated online regarding whether or not to wear a facemask and, if a necessity, which mask should we wear? Australia's chief medical officer Professor Paul Kelly said people living in Melbourne who can't remain socially distant when out and about for essential reasons 'should wear a mask'. So why don't we do it? We've worn masks for a multitude of purposes throughout history including to shield, camouflage, disguise and masquerade. Face coverings have transformative qualities and can affect the way we communicate and the way we feel. From a positive standpoint, masks can be creative, liberating and empowering.

When you wear the mask, the mask becomes you features work by Michael Camakaris, Nick Capaldo, Adrian Lazzaro, Julian Martin, Sammie-Jo Matta, Daniel Pace, Gavin Porter, Aidan Sefo, Cathy Staughton, Jimmy Tran and Terry Williams. It reflects on the transformative qualities wearing a mask can have on the wearer. We examine the use of face coverings from a functional as well as fanciful and speculative viewpoint.


Unless otherwise stated, artworks are for sale.

Prices quoted are unframed
& don’t include framing and shipping fees.

Artworks can either be mailed
or stored safely until we return.
In-person collection is only available if accessibility is an issue until government restrictions are lifted.

60% of sales go to the artists
40% of sales go to APA to support our studio and artists


Images courtesy of the artist and Arts Project Australia.


For enquiries, please contact
Arts Project Australia
+61 3 9482 4484
sim.luttin@artsproject.org.au
www.artsproject.org.au


PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
Leonard Joel
Limb Family Foundation
The Calvert-Jones Foundation
Art Guide Australia

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