Deakin Art Gallery ponders unproductive thinking in new exhibition

The free exhibition features moving image, drawing, photographic, ceramic, sculptural and painting-based artworks by Lauren Burrow, Eugene Carchesio, Rob McHaffie, Elyse de Valle, Simon Zoric and Ian Milliss. The exhibition also features two new site-specific artwork commissions by Laresa Kosloff and Jessie Bullivant.

Exhibition curator James Lynch said the exhibition would seek to inspire visitors’ imaginations by revealing the humorous, poetic and mundane means of artists and how they use or misuse their thought processes for the purposes of creativity.

“Many of us experience pressure to be continually improving ourselves; to be transforming into something better and more efficient,” Mr Lynch said.

“But for what purpose and what reward? Unproductive Thinking contemplates these anxieties of contemporary life. How do artists engage their time and how does the production of art differ from the incessant push to be always efficient, diligent and productive members of society?”

“One of the highlights of the exhibition will be a series of early works from Sydney-based artist Ian Milliss,” Mr Lynch said.

“These simple typed works on paper are some of the earliest examples of conceptual art in Australia and have rarely been seen before in Melbourne.”

Unproductive Thinking will be officially launched at the Deakin University Art Gallery on Wednesday 26 April by Dr Russell Grigg, a leading psychoanalyst and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Deakin University.

A full colour, 36-page catalogue featuring essays by Mr Lynch and Dr Justin Clemens, Associate Professor of Philosophy at The University of Melbourne, accompanies the exhibition. 

WHAT: Unproductive Thinkingexhibition

WHEN: Wednesday 26 April to Friday 26 May. Gallery hours: Tuesday to Friday between 10am – 4pm.

WHERE: Deakin University Art Gallery, building FA, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood.