Exhibition | Controversy: the Power of Art

The exhibition includes over 100 works from major and regional galleries and explores the social and cultural impact of art through examples that have provoked intense response and controversy. Beginning with key works by Duchamp and Pollock that redefined the nature of art itself, the exhibition includes examples from the Archibald Prize. It charts the involvement of art with salient social and political issues including social injustice, violence, refugees and the homeless. Controversies over lifestyles and critiques of bourgeois values are represented, along with volatile representations of the human body, including interpretations of sexuality, gender and the representation of children in recent art.

This visually rich and spectacular exhibition surveys past, present and future controversies in works from the 19th century to the present day and represents major works by both Australian and international artists working in painting, photography, print-making, video, sculpture, installation and video. Artists include Damien Hirst, Francisco Goya, Juan Davila, Henry Frith, Robert Mapplethorpe, Jules Lefebvre, Freda Robertshaw, Brett Whiteley, Lisa Roet, Mike Parr, Patricia Piccinini, Huan Zhang and Ivan Durrant.

Controversy: the Power of Art – 21 June-12 August 2012

Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Civic Reserve

Dunns Road Mornington Victoria 3931

Website: http://mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au/

Open: Tuesday – Sunday 10am-5pm and most public holidays