Project Description
In the art world, there’s a new emphasis on care, with a focus on gentle attentiveness and good works, and a fear of triggering hurt. Care has become a buzzword and is being used to reset policy and practice. However, too often, the complexity and troublesomeness of care are smoothed over by liberal good intentions.
Care is a murky notion. It is entangled with ugly feelings of obligation and burden, exhaustion and sacrifice. It is sometimes a mask for coercion and control. It is also co-opted by commerce as a marketing tool, rebranded and repackaged as ‘wellness’ and ‘self-care’. In this discussion, the ‘uncaring’ positions – libertarians and litterers, meat eaters and gas guzzlers – are regularly overlooked. How will they be framed by – and frame – the practice of care?
An international group show, Duty of Care explores familial, institutional, and professional care; care and gender; care and race; care and medicine; artists as healers; extreme care; and more.
‘Duty of Care’ was a partnership between the Institute of Modern Art and Griffith University Art Museum, encompassing two concurrent exhibitions. GUAM also hosted a symposium featuring speakers including Stephanie Berlangieri, Angela Goddard, Robert Leonard, Catherine Liu, Cassie Thornton (online), Joel Sherwood Spring, Charla Strelan, Tara Heffernan and Samid Suliman.
Part One | Institute of Modern Art, 29 June – 22 September 2024
Part Two | Griffith University Art Museum, 15 August – 9 November 2024
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
GUAM is open to all members of the public who are invited to view and learn from every exhibition during the regular opening hours. School tours and tours for QCAD students were held and a day-long symposium was presented at Griffith University’s QCAD lecture theatre, featuring American cultural theorist Catherine Liu as keynote speaker.
Curated by GUAM and IMA directors, Angela Goddard and Robert Leonard respectively, and IMA curatorial collaborator Stephanie Berlangieri (MUMA), the exhibition included acclaimed international artists such as Sally Mann and David Shrigley, and incisive artists from Asia, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Outcomes to Date
Over 1500 local, state, national and international visitors attended ‘Duty of Care: Part Two’ at Griffith University Art Museum.
Project Significance
All of GUAM’s exhibitions are free, accessible, open to the public and contribute to SDG 4 ‘Quality Education’ and SDG 11 ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’ particularly 11.2.3 ‘Public access to museums’.
‘Duty of Care’ was an exhibition aimed specifically at SDG 10 ‘Reduced inequalities’ along with SGD 4, 5, 16 and 17.