Sumptuary – Garth Knight, Deborah Paauwe, Farrell & Parkin, Alexia Sinclair and Robyn Stacey
Sumptuary – Garth Knight, Deborah Paauwe, Farrell & Parkin, Alexia Sinclair and Robyn Stacey
26 November 2010 – 12 December 2011
Luxury can be a matter of status, prodigality or decadence. It depends where you are standing at the time. In this lavish exhibition five leading Australian photomedia artists explore the fabrics, costumes, jewellery and tableware of conspicuous consumption and absolute power.
Throughout history, sumptuary laws were enacted in an attempt (almost always unsuccessful) to constrain the acquisition and display of luxury goods. This was at times motivated by a sense of modesty, at times by a desire to maintain hierarchy and at times as a way to curb imports that threatened the domestic market.