October 31, 2022 Image: detail of Dyan Tai, Powerhouse Generations Fellow. Photo by Zan Wimberley.
Powerhouse today announced Absolutely Queer, an exhibition celebrating contemporary queer creativity opening 17 February 2023 for Sydney WorldPride 2023, showcasing the work of Sydney’s leading LGBTQIA+ artists, designers, makers and performers.
Creatives include Matthew Aberline and Maurice Goldberg from The Beautiful and Useful Studio; Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist Dennis Golding whose work critiques social, political and cultural representations of race and identity; video game developers, animators and illustrators Scott Ford and Peter Foley of Fuzzy Ghost; and multi-disciplinary artist Justin Shoulder who uses his body and craft to forge connections between queer, migrant, spiritual and intercultural experiences.
They will be joined by gender and body diverse fashion house Nicol & Ford, founded by Katie-Louise and Timothy Nicol-Ford; designer Nikita Majajas of pop art jewellery brand Doodad + Fandango with her wife, international DJ Charlie Villas; social justice activist and cartoonist Norrie, a transgender advocate; multi-award-winning Mardi Gras costume designer Renè Rivas; and legendary drag king Sexy Galexy, whose glamorous thirty-year stage career has been highly influential in forging a new modern take on drag, evolving beyond male impersonation.
Acknowledging the legacy and ongoing influence of pioneering queer creatives, the exhibition will also include seminal Mardi Gras and Sleaze Ball costumes from the Powerhouse collection, including work by Brenton Heath-Kerr, Ron Muncaster, Brian Ross and Peter Tully.
‘We are so excited by this extraordinary exhibition curated by Powerhouse. I am thrilled that these incredible LGBTQIA+ artists, performers and designers will be profiled during this global event. It is a highlight on the WorldPride Arts calendar, which is a curated program of over 70 arts events as part of Sydney WorldPride,’ said Daniel Clarke, Sydney WorldPride Festival Creative Director – WorldPride Arts.
Absolutely Queer follows in the footsteps of previous Powerhouse exhibitions Absolutely Mardi Gras (1996), HIV and AIDS 30 Years On: The Australian Story (2012) and 40 Years of Fabulousness (2018) in reflecting Australia’s contemporary queer histories.
‘Powerhouse has had a long commitment to collecting and documenting queer histories. As Sydney prepares to host the biggest LGBTQIA+ festival in the world, we are so excited to welcome the queer community to the Powerhouse,’ said Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah.
Powerhouse, in association with Sydney WorldPride, will present:
POWERHOUSE LATE: ABSOLUTELY QUEER
16 February 2023, 5pm
A celebration of the LGBTQIA+ exhibiting artists and their communities featuring performances by Justin Shoulder, Marlena Dalí, Tyra Bankstown, music by DJ Charlie Villas, Fried Pork Chop and more.
SYDNEY OBSERVATORY LATE: WORLDPRIDE
22 February 2023, 7pm
Alice Motion and Alexis Weaver present an experiment in collective sound, inviting audiences to become a part of the Atomic Choir to create an album of some of science’s greatest hits. Witness a star spectrum performance with artist Emily Parsons-Lord and explore the night sky through telescopes in our courtyard, accompanied by sets from local DJs.
POWERHOUSE LATE: QUEERBOURHOOD
23 February 2023, 5pm
Sydney’s diverse and vibrant LGBTQIA+ communities take over the iconic Powerhouse Transport Hall with live music and performances curated by Jonny Seymour and Paul Mac, and drinks by Sydney institution The Bearded Tit.
POWERHOUSE LATE: WERKSHOP
2 March 2023, 5pm
A deep dive into the creative process of the artists featured in Absolutely Queer along with other iconic Sydney queer creatives, featuring artist-led exhibition tours, a jewellery workshop, a cooking and storytelling experience, music and live performance.
View the full program here
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Kirsty Randles | Powerhouse
kirsty.randles@maas.museum | 0402 021 717
Clio Ellis | Powerhouse
clio.ellis@maas.museum | 0450 492 745
About Powerhouse
Powerhouse sits at the intersection of arts, design, science and technology and plays a critical role in engaging communities with contemporary ideas and issues. We are undertaking a landmark $1.4 billion infrastructure renewal program, spearheaded by the creation of the flagship museum, Powerhouse Parramatta; expanded research and public facilities at Powerhouse Castle Hill; the renewal of the iconic Powerhouse Ultimo; and the ongoing operation of Sydney Observatory. The museum is custodian to over half a million objects of national and international significance and is considered one of the finest and most diverse collections in Australia. We are also undertaking an expansive digitisation project that will provide new levels of access to Powerhouse collections.
About Sydney WorldPride 2023
Sydney WorldPride is a mega Mardi Gras festival taking place from 17 February to 5 March 2023. Over 17 days, Sydney will host more than 300 LGBTQIA+ events, including Rainbow Republic presented by Optus, Ultra Violet and Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert, as well as the much-loved Mardi Gras Parade, which will be returning to Oxford Street for the first time in three years.