Adam Kalkin, Andrea Zittel, Flatland OK, Pacific Women's Weaving Circle, Slow Art Collective
Guest curator: Grace McQuilten
Mis-design is an attempt to re-map the potential of contemporary art in a culture overwhelmed by design. Art is unique for its ability to unravel and undermine preconceived notions of âpurposeâ, âutilityâ, and âvalueâ. It is this capacity towards anti-design that gives art a future in an increasingly commercial, visual world. Mis-design conceives of, and affirms a future for artâoutside of the art worldâas a parasite in the complex machinery of consumer culture.
Mis-design is a six-part project comprised of two exhibitions at the Ian Potter Museum of Art and three exhibitions at inner-city Melbourne sites. The sixth affiliated project, Adam Kalkinâs Pop-up Pirate Radio Tower, is produced by the Victorian College of the Arts.
Installed at the Potter are two separate exhibitions, the Adam Kalkin Tennis Academy (AKTA), and Andrea Zittelâs smockshop archive and experimental design studio AâZ Administrative Services. Slow Art Collectiveâs installation Shelter features in the underground car park of McDonaldâs Restaurant on Smith Street in Collingwood and in nearby Fitzroy, the Pacific Womenâs Weaving Circle occupy the clothing store Alphaville located on Brunswick Street. At two separate sites in Melbourne Central shopping centre on Swanston Street in Melbourne CBD, Flatland OK has installed two Thinking pavilions. Designed in collaboration with RMIT interior design students to prompt passersby to pause and think, the pavilions attempt to literally unhinge your mind for a few moments to make space for contemplation of other things.
Mis-design is curated by Grace McQuilten, a scholar with a passion for contemporary art and community development. McQuilten completed her PhD in Art History at the University of Melbourne in 2008. Her doctoral research explored interconnections between art, design, and consumer culture.