New art exhibition about humour opens at the MAC
18 artists in total will be exhibited at the MAC, working in painting, sculpture and installation, to film, video and sound. Meanwhile, a different line-up of artists are exhibiting simultaneously at Bluecoat, Liverpool. The exhibition is guest curated by David Campbell and Mark Durden, founding members of the artists' group Common Culture, who have always been interested in the role of comedy in art.
Double Act Guest curators, David Campbell/Mark Durden, said: “Many of the works in the exhibition deliberately poke fun at art history, the art community, or even art itself. It’s quite common that people have a wry laugh to themselves about certain types of contemporary art and with this exhibition, that’s actively encouraged. We’re thrilled to be in Belfast exhibiting at the MAC while simultaneously exhibiting at Bluecoat in Liverpool. It’s exciting to have a shared exhibition, separated by geography but joined by a shared sense of humour.”
MAC Senior Curator, Hugh Mulholland, said: “I am very pleased to be working with David Campbell and Mark Durden as Guest Curators, on this Double Act – Art and Comedy. Our Guest Curator Programme opens up the opportunity for invited curators to present new and exciting programme ideas to the MAC’s exhibition profile. This exhibition is also a true Double Act as it is programmed in partnership with the Bluecoat Gallery in Liverpool who are currently showing a completely different group of artists under the same curatorial theme. The exhibition at the MAC includes 18 artists across all three of our galleries, so I think there’s a lot on offer for visitors and certainly hope that some works will raise a smile or two.”
The exhibition previews tonight from 7pm and is open daily to the public, free of charge, from tomorrow (Friday 6 May) until 31 July at the MAC.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a new publication designed by Lawn Creative in Liverpool, and there will be a public programme of events unfolding at both venues over the course of the project.
The exhibition is open to the public daily from 10am-7pm, free to visit.
