Art Gallery of South Australia — Attraction in Adelaide

!!!DO NOT VISIT AGSA!!!

I recently visited AGSA and was deeply disturbed by two exhibits: "Das swings unt roundabouts fur der kinder? Ja? Nein! Schweinhund!" by Jake and Dinos Chapman and "We are all flesh" by Berlinde De Bruyckere.

The Chapmans' piece features figurines of Nazi soldiers alongside McDonald's characters interacting with emaciated figures reminiscent of Holocaust victims. This juxtaposition trivializes the horrors of the Holocaust and disrespects the memory of those who suffered. Additionally, its critique of capitalism, symbolized by the psychotic rage of the McDonald's characters, challenges the very foundations of Australia's market-based economy and way of life.

De Bruyckere's "We are all flesh" depicts two headless horses conjoined and suspended. While the sculpture is composed of resin forms covered with horse hides, the visual impact is distressing. The use of animal hides in such a manner raises ethical questions and can be perceived as insensitive. Moreover, the graphic nature of this piece may not be suitable for all audiences, including younger visitors. For instance, a young girl who loves horses might encounter this exhibit and be deeply traumatized by the sight of headless horse figures, potentially leading to lasting emotional distress.

An art gallery should be a family-friendly, apolitical, and inclusive space. While art is meant to question societal norms and provoke thought, it should not offend or traumatize visitors, especially in a public setting. These exhibits seem to prioritize provocation over meaningful engagement.

!!!DO NOT VISIT AGSA, ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS!!!

*I am not including photos of the actual artworks to avoid offending anyone, but I have attached a photo of the description for the Chapmans' piece...

This happened last 11 July Monday, between 2:00-2:15pm:

We were on a short holiday trip from Melbourne exploring the beautiful Adelaide and so we went to the Art Gallery of SA yesterday and sadly, experienced being discriminated by one of their roving security staff.

Everything so far went excellent, enjoyed their spacious hallways making us feel the artworks were even more emphasised, and loved everything we saw spending more than an hour I guess, then decided to make our way out. Halfway down to the entrance a middle-aged gentleman (roving security staff based on his uniform, all-black plus the badge/s and radio, as that of the others we had met inside) approached us and reminded my wife of a safer way she could carry her mid-sized handbag should she come across any artwork. Mind you, neither of us weren't even close to any artwork as we were on our way out, and that we had crossed paths with a few other security staff before him and we weren't called out or anything. I thought, alright I'd thank him for his reminders and say we were actually leaving but he continued speaking and all of a sudden told us, "OBVIOUSLY IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ENGLISH YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT HOW I MOVE MY HANDS..", then exaggeratedly pantomime himself repeating the above. I couldn't believe what just happened and so I said quickly, "OF COURSE WE UNDERSTAND ENGLISH AND WE KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.." , I hadn't even finished speaking yet he rushed his way away from us. That point I realised he just wanted to discriminate us let alone racially profile us.

On our way down I spoke to the lady at the reception and narrated what happened. She was lovely and apologetic enough and told me she would pass it on.

Thought I'd share this here because that...

I recently had the pleasure of exploring the Art Gallery of South Australia's exhibit dedicated to Andy Warhol, and I must say, it was a truly fascinating experience. The exhibit offered a glimpse into the life and work of one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, showcasing some of his most iconic pieces and providing insights into his unique approach to art.

What struck me the most about Warhol's work was his ability to capture the essence of famous people, both in their public and private lives. His portraits of figures such as the Kennedys, Salvador Dali, Mick Jagger, and Arnold Schwarzenegger are stunning, not just because of their technical proficiency but because they offer a glimpse into the humanity behind the celebrity.

As I walked through the exhibit, I couldn't help but wonder what Warhol would think of the world today, where everyone seems to be capturing images of famous people and sharing them online. In a way, it seems like Warhol was ahead of his time, anticipating our fascination with celebrity culture and our desire to see famous people doing non-famous things.

Overall, I highly recommend the Art Gallery of South Australia's Andy Warhol exhibit to anyone interested in art, culture, and the human condition. It's a truly immersive experience that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for one of the most iconic artists of our time. Thank you, Art Gallery of South Australia, for bringing this incredible...