On Men at Canberra Contemporary Art Space

By Benjamen Judd

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If you haven’t done so already, head down to the Canberra Contemporary Art Space and take in the latest exhibition at Gorman House. Titled On Men, the collection takes a look at what it means to be male from the perspectives of four local artists and curated by Eleanor Scicchitano.

According to Scicchitano, On Men is a continuation of a study that began in 2012, “exploring contemporary Australian masculinity through the art work of three Anglo Celt artists; Ben Quilty, Alan Jones and Adam Cullen. Descended from the convicts who settled Australia in 1788, a typical ‘Aussie bloke’ has traditionally been defined as ‘macho’, he doesn’t whinge; a battler who lives and dies by the idea of ‘mateship’. This colonial history seems to have continued to influence the way in which Aussie men see themselves.”

For the exhibition, she has teamed up with four artists – Paul Sloan, Will French, James Tylor and Dale Harding – to help continue to explore this narrative and provide unique insights into what it means to be male, and a man, in contemporary society.

On Men is now showing at Gorman House at Canberra Contemporary Art Space until September 27.