Arts and Culture

An exhibition in the name of hope unveiled a talented community of local and international artists. Presented by Director of the Main Gallery, Dr Ozlem Yeni, A Brave New World, offered tribute to Aldous Huxley’s original novel from 1932, as part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival.

The Main Gallery came to life last year, created from a lasting dream to connect the cultures of Australia and Turkey, encouraging added diversity and celebration through art. This unique and contemporary environment indeed offered an inviting and intimate, yet open and alight sense of space which beautifully showcased the unique arrangement of works included in A Brave New World. The careful placement and soft, natural light allowed each work to speak its message of shared optimism and responsiveness to possibility.

The exhibition was unified through the works of ten artists who each uniquely contributed to an expanse of both diversity and harmony. Through ranging colour, style and medium each piece more fluidly engaged with ideas of hope in a rapidly shifting world rocked by the unpredictable currents of a pandemic.

Olclay Ataseven offered a portal into the light through a moving, motioning shape contrast by a greyed-out backdrop. Intuitive works by Elizabeth Wojciak resonated a thousand freedoms across an uninhibited palette of pastels. Georgina Mill’s sculpture Desire for Desires grabbed attention from its central point where her pensive expression was accessible to viewers. Desire is born if the spirit remains alive through hope; if there is no will for life there is no will to want.

Dr Ozlem Yeni’s presentation challenged the repressive notions of structure. A display of three dark canvases carefully contrasted by white stripes highlighted the continuity of life and existence through the length of a yellow line. Works of Nevin Guven unfolded to express illustrations resonate of unbridled kindred energy that pursues possibility in every form. Wielded steel winged maquettes by Alan Todd offered a unique take on optimism through the belief that flight is possible even during diminished circumstances.

A Brave New World extended to include more brilliant pieces by artists, Linda Lee, Fiat Nezirogluand, Steven Cybulka and Hayal Incededongan, where works of bold colour spectacularly collided with detailed tapestry, unique wooden structures and delicately expressive videography.

This thought-provoking display offered a spectacular collection of diversity by a range of talented local and international artists, brought together through shared explorations of hope and optimism. While A Brave New World indeed offered a tribute to Aldous Huxley’s novel, it offered a greater tribute to art – a force that conveys perspective as much as it reshapes it. This insightful exhibition was a strong reminder that art is as much about expressing as it is envisioning, and beholds the power to transport us from one mode of being to another.

Audio pending

Produced by Emma Wotzke

Image supplied by Dr Ozlem Yeni