to have and to hold (Mother) 2021

to have and to hold (Wild Thing I) 2021

to have and to hold (Wild Thing II) 2021 shown in use

to have and to hold 2021

Faux fur, polyester, velvet, dimensions variable

to have and to hold  is a recent work developed from initial experiments created during Michelle Vine’s Artist @ Home residency for the Museum of Brisbane during the COVID-19 lockdown last year. These wearable soft sculptures are intuitively drawn by the artist directly on fabric, then stitched. As comfort objects they are designed to evoke the catharsis of the embrace; reconnecting us to the primacy of touch made taboo during the pandemic. The audience are invited to unhook the works from the gallery wall and wear them for as long as they would like, or need, during their visit.

About the exhibition

What Matters is a collection of work by multi-disciplined artists that – engages, implicates, or involves the audience in interactive or physical work, or, sensory experiences, all of which are best experienced in person. A response to the online/virtual exhibition forums. Curated by artists Perrin Millard and Mark du Potiers.

The last 12 months has caused a universal re-evaluation of inter-connectedness, individual self-reflections, as well as, our social structures in the broader context.With isolation either physical or emotional, interconnectivity between the individual and the community has been altered in an unprecedented way. Human innovation quickly established alternatives to the disconnection of touch, physical engagements, and physical experiences, relying more than ever on the virtual world to connect with one another. Innovation and necessity saw the experience of art becoming relegated to online forums. These forums were desperately needed to provide the opportunity to continue to be a part of the broader art community, while at the same time, exacerbated feelings of isolation. Introspection flourished as artists and the broader community sought a sense of fulfilment despite feelings of isolation. While we have returned to a resemblance of normality, many individuals are still struggling with sense of re-connection within their communities.

Contributing artists: Mark du Potiers, Perrin Millard, Sharna Barker, Ruby Yu-Lu Yeh, Timothy Fairless, Matt Page, Michael Louttit, Michelle Vine, Renee Kire, Sunday Jemmott, Ruaa Al-Rikabi, Mary Duong, and Genevieve Memory.