The Social

2013

Visual Art

Artist/s: Abdul Abdullah, Liam Benson, Alexandra Clapman & Penelope Benton, Sarah Contos, Justin Shoulder, Christian Thompson, Emma Thompson, Daniel McKewen, Jodie Whalen and Josephine Skinner

Campbelltown Arts Centre’s 2013 Visual Arts calendar kicked off with The Social, an exhibition which explores the practice and process of artists who celebrate, engage with and interrogate elements of popular culture. The artists exhibiting in the show are Abdul Abdullah, Liam Benson, Alexandra Clapman & Penelope Benton, Sarah Contos, Justin Shoulder, Christian Thompson, Emma Thompson, Daniel McKewen, Jodie Whalen and Josephine Skinner who will work within the context of performance, narrative, photo-media and video.

This exhibition takes a fresh look at the relationship between contemporary art practice and popular culture at a time when the distinction between high and low forms of culture is again being redrawn, specifically around ideas of social engagement. The works in this show raise a number of questions: What is popular culture and what is art? How do we engage with these modes of culture of as spectators, consumers, communities? How do mass social and cultural forms of entertainment such the internet, video, YouTube and reality television become acceptable means of engagement with art and as elements of art practice?

An imaginative or surreal experience created by the artists is presented to the audience, this outcome being that of a much larger process of development by the artist. With underlying social and political commentary that is often comical, bordering on uncomfortable, on the role of art and artist - practice and process – pop culture and social engagement. The Social will take these as a thematic focal point within the realm of alternate performance and portraiture.