Opening today until Saturday 10 December, A Gentle Unwinding showcases the world of artists from the Modern Times community.

A Gentle Unwinding explores the relationship between relaxation, tension, and the various stages of unwinding resulting in more than 80 artworks that span a variety of methods and practices.

As we come to the end of another year, it’s an ideal time to reflect. While many artist reflections shared in this exhibition have been positive – now that we are able to reconnect with loved ones through open borders and enjoy simple pleasures – external factors continue to dominate headlines and affect lives in new ways.

With another year of the pandemic, war raging in Ukraine and cost-of-living pressures rising, it’s important to question what the impact of this dramatic push and pull has on the individual and society more broadly.

With this in mind, a reoccurring theme of repair, release and renewal emerges throughout the works of the exhibition.

For instance, Kerryn Levy’s undulating sculpture Strawberry Moon features kintsugi techniques, delicately scarring the pink surface with gold, while Lucy Tolan’s vessels Weep 1 and 2 observe the release of tension through the literal opening of seams.

By contrast, painter Sarah Kelk reaches for the comfort of the familiar while simultaneously acknowledging the presence of tension scattered amongst the fond memories. 

Kelk describes her work as a ‘soft layer next to strong layer, an unexpected colour burst, a constant state of relaxation and tension’.

Modern Times co-director and founder Amy Malin says the end-of-year group show is “punctuated with bright colours, graphic forms and expressions of dynamic movement.

“I see a bold and surprising expression of confidence, in a time of so many unknowns. I’m heartened to be heading in 2023 with the vibrancy and optimism conveyed in A Gentle Unwinding,” she says.

With the unpredictable nature of the past year, this exhibition offers a refreshing perspective and, importantly, a chance to unwind.

A Gentle Unwinding is open from Thursday 17 November until Saturday 10 December.

Lead image

Also in Melbourne, HAY makes its grand entrance in Fitzroy.