Pleasure: Valentine's Day 'Art Celebrates Love' Julian Goddard + Rhett D'Costa, Gun Shy, Vipoo Srivilasa

Led by Pleasure co-curator Julian Goddard, this Valentines' Day discussion looks at the role of love in contemporary art as present in the exhibition.

Led by Pleasure co-curator Julian Goddard, this Valentines' Day discussion looks at the role of love in contemporary art as present in the exhibition. On this special day the idea of celebrating the joys of love and its expression in art, will be considered as each invited artist on the panel talks to their work in the show. While love and the experience of beauty often go unnoticed in contemporary art, this will be a chance to look closer into artworks and draw out some of the more optimistic and joyous expressions of deep feelings for others and the world around us.

About the artists

Rhett D'Costa's pandisciplinary projects have centered on the 'right to belong', exploring the role of resilience and optimism in the intersecting areas of migration, multiculturalism, identity, nationalism and belonging. His research has focused on ideas connected to culturally composite ethnicities, mixed race communities and the negotiation of the porosity of place, belonging and identity. More recently the 'right to belong' extends his interests in identity formation in terms of sexuality and culture. These interests take into account shifting social and political circumstances and the tensions and consequences of mobility and migration in transnational environments.

GUN SHY is Kathryn Jamieson. Concentrating on the possibilities of deluxe faux fur, Gun Shy produces a range of luxurious, high end, hand made, faux fur jackets and stoles that are glamorous, opulent, sculptural, imposing and technically brilliant. The Gun Shy vision has been embraced by creative luminaries, such as Kate Ceberano, Em Rusciano, Conchita Wurst, Violet Chachki and Clairy Browne and endorsed by none other than the legendary Wu Tang Clan. Creating special garments that people love and cherish and embracing the essence of lavish extravagance and fun is at the heart of their philosophy.

Vipoo Srivilasa works predominantly in ceramics, creating contemporary porcelain sculptures, vessels and figures to transmit a universal message about cross-cultural experiences. His works explore similarities between the cultures of his native home, Thailand and his adoptive home, Australia. His work is a playful blend of historical figurative and decorative art practices with a healthy dose of contemporary culture. For more than 20 years, Vipoo has exhibited both internationally and throughout Australia, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Saatchi Gallery, London; Ayala Museum, Philippines; Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taiwan; Nanjing Arts Institute, China and the National Gallery of Thailand. His work is held in national and international collections including the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of South Australia, GOMA, and the Craft Council, UK.

Vipoo Srivilasa, Happy Together, 2017. Image courtesy of the artist.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.