EXHIBITION HOURS
12–6PM TH–SA, 12–4PM SU

OPENING DRINKS
6–8PM THURSDAY 22 MAY

 

Upside of Passing is a collection of the visual works of Mexican born artist, Lissa Barnum. It’s an irreverent telling of memories and connections — of departed pets, deeply loved humans and nature’s irrevocable cycles.

Culturally, the work touches on Mexican-flavoured rituals; a preparation for, and in conversation with, the process of death, dying and what remains. For those who have experience loss, sorrow should not be the only inhabitant of our spirit. Instead, humour and joy can infuse suffering with promise.

The images express death using well-known euphemisms and descriptive language prompting detours into other well-known semiotic/visual expressions.  Following the Mexican tradition, bright colours are used as fundamental to the representations. In Anglo terms, the over-use and appropriated totems say of ‘Day of the Dead,’ tend to dilute the gravity of life and death passings.

By not employing over-borrowed iterations, the depiction of death as ‘cross-cultural ideation’ is playful, impactful, resonant, as well as melancholic and solemn.

FRONT ROOM

Lissa Barnum ‘Torrent of Tears’ – $500
Lissa Barnum ‘Music I Love When I Go’ – $500
Lissa Barnum ‘Buried with the Things I Love’ – $300
Lissa Barnum ‘Croaked’ – $300
Lissa Barnum ‘Everything is Good’
Lissa Barnum ‘Brush With’
Lissa Barnum ‘Fall Off the Perch’ – $500
Lissa Barnum ‘Spirits at the Flower Shop’ – $300
Lissa Barnum ‘Kick the Bucket’
Lissa Barnum ‘Pushing Up Daisies’ – $500
Lissa Barnum ‘Deadline’ – $500
Lissa Barnum ‘Timeline of a Flower’ – $500
Lissa Barnum ‘La Doctora’
Lissa Barnum ‘Black Dog Teacher Guide’ – NFS
Lissa Barnum ‘The Disappeared Ones’ – $500
Lissa Barnum ‘At Death’s Door’ – $500
Lissa Barnum ‘Eternal Sleep’ – $500
Lissa Barnum ‘Gratitude Bounty’ – $500
Lissa Barnum ‘Life Certificate’ – $500

SECOND ROOM

Lissa Barnum ‘Snuffed It’ – $500
Lissa Barnum ‘Toda Una Vida’

ABOUT LISSA BARNUM

Born in Mexico City, Lissa uses images that are a combined representation of Latin American and Australian lore. She has been a Visual Communication academic and practitioner for over 30 years. Music also plays a part in her combined artist- life, together with composer/lyricist and artist, Andrew Barnum.

Now living down the South Coast of NSW, Lissa has gathered pieces that remind her, not only of her cultural roots, but of the alignment of First Nation history to both Australia and Indigenous Mexico. The moniker AUS/MEX has been integral to her life’s work, which also includes the love of her two donkeys, horses, chickens, birds, dogs (who have crossed the rainbow bridge) – all a vital part of a well-orchestrated rancho life.