Love. Respect. Pride

In celebration of Sydney WorldPride, Level 3 of UNSW Main Library featured a vibrant display of colourful paintings, sculptures, photographs, collages, and prints by queer-identifying (LGBTIQ+) artists from the UNSW Art Collection.

When:

24 Feb - 26 May 2023
 

Where:

Level 3 Main Library

Artists:

Victoria Atkinson
Gerwyn Davies
Deborah Kelly
Dylan Mooney
Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran
Jeffrey Smart
 

Partner:

UNSW Art Collection

Through their respective practices, the artists in Love. Respect. Pride. explored queer perspectives, aesthetics, and narratives around identity, sexuality and queer love. The exhibition included artworks by women artists, First Nations artists, and artists with disability - underscoring that for some, queerness can be intersectional.

Love. Respect. Pride. highlighted new Library-funded acquisitions by leading Australian contemporary artists Victoria Atkinson, Gerwyn Davies and Dylan Mooney. Displayed alongside the recent acquisitions are Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran's multicoloured ceramic sculpture, Pussy (2015), Jeffrey Smart's 1954 painting Edward VII baths, one of the first artworks purchased by the University, and a special loan of works by Deborah Kelly.

This exhibition was a collaboration between the UNSW Art Collection and UNSW Library to champion inclusion, representation and Allyship by generating a platform for awareness and respect.

 

Top images:

Left: Deborah Kelly, Maid of Jutland (2017), collage, watercolour, ink and metallic pigments on paper. On loan from the artist. © Deborah Kelly. [Image description: A figure with their head and lower body covered with large flowers against a dark background.]

Right: Dylan Mooney, Stuck on You (2020), from the Queer, Blak and Here series (2020-21), digital illustration printed on 320gsm smooth cotton paper, 84.1 x 59.4 cm. UNSW Art Collection (PR 2022/1253). © Dylan Mooney. [Image description: Two young men embracing against a night sky. One is wearing a brown jacket, the other a sweater with rainbow trim and the Aboriginal flag on the sleeve, and both have white face paint.]

Exhibition text

Download the Love. Respect. Pride. art labels below.

Art label text (1.7MB PDF)

Accessibility: UNSW Main Library is wheelchair accessible and the exhibition included large-text artwork labels.

Image gallery

Two framed artworks hung side by side. The left depicts a photo of a human figure in a sculptural, silver costume against a blue background. The right is a photo of a human figure wearing a green, tree-like costume, with a building in the background.

Love. Respect. Pride. - Installation view. Left: Gerwyn Davies, ‘LA #1 (Paramount)’ (2020). Right: Gerwyn Davies, ‘Copa’ (2020)

Installation view of two framed artworks. The work on the left is an abstract collage, featuring a female torso with flowers on a black background. The work on the right is a collage featuring a female face, legs, lips, and hands on a white background.

Love. Respect. Pride. - Installation view. Left: Deborah Kelly, ‘Maid of Jutland’ (2017). Right: Deborah Kelly, ‘Crone of Jutland’ (2017)

Installation view of two framed prints. The work of the left features two young men embracing against the night sky. The work on the right features a young man with multicoloured body, wearing a fur cape, set against a bright yellow full moon.

Love. Respect. Pride. - Installation view. Left: Dylan Mooney, ‘Stuck on You’ (2020). Right: Dylan Mooney ‘Kaigani’ (2021)

Installation view of three framed prints hung side-by-side. All three artworks have vibrant colours, displaying abstract images of people, animals, objects, and buildings.

Love. Respect. Pride. - Installation view. Victoria Atkinson, ‘Showman’ (2018). Centre: Victoria Atkinson, ‘Church Rainbow’ (2018). Right: Victoria Atkinson, ‘Spotty Waterfall Building (City Scene II)’ (2019)

Installation view of a large, multicoloured ceramic sculpture, sitting upon a white plinth the with text ‘Love. Respect. Pride.’ written beneath.

Love. Respect. Pride. - Installation view. Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, ‘Pussy’ (2015)

Installation view of a gold framed painting, portraying nude figures lounging by an outdoor bathhouse against a blue, clouded sky.

Love. Respect. Pride - Installation view. Jeffery Smart, ‘Edward VII Baths’ (1954).

Photo of the opening event. The photo focuses on a distant wall with the exhibition title text written in colourful letters, with several framed artworks on either side. In the foreground five people view the works.

Love. Respect. Pride. Opening Event - Guests during the speeches

Photo of the opening event. The photo focuses on the near wall with the exhibition title text in colourful letters, with a crowd of people gathered in the background.

Love. Respect. Pride. Opening Event - Title wall with guests in the background

Photo of a crowd of people in front of a large, framed artwork hanging on the wall. The artwork depicts a young man with multicoloured body, wearing a fur cape, set against a bright yellow full moon.

Love. Respect. Pride. Opening Event - Guests in front of Dylan Mooney's artwork

Two framed artworks hung side by side. The left depicts a photo of a human figure in a sculptural, silver costume against a blue background. The right is a photo of a human figure wearing a green, tree-like costume, with a building in the background.
Installation view of two framed artworks. The work on the left is an abstract collage, featuring a female torso with flowers on a black background. The work on the right is a collage featuring a female face, legs, lips, and hands on a white background.
Installation view of two framed prints. The work of the left features two young men embracing against the night sky. The work on the right features a young man with multicoloured body, wearing a fur cape, set against a bright yellow full moon.
Installation view of three framed prints hung side-by-side. All three artworks have vibrant colours, displaying abstract images of people, animals, objects, and buildings.
Installation view of a large, multicoloured ceramic sculpture, sitting upon a white plinth the with text ‘Love. Respect. Pride.’ written beneath.
Installation view of a gold framed painting, portraying nude figures lounging by an outdoor bathhouse against a blue, clouded sky.
Photo of the opening event. The photo focuses on a distant wall with the exhibition title text written in colourful letters, with several framed artworks on either side. In the foreground five people view the works.
Photo of the opening event. The photo focuses on the near wall with the exhibition title text in colourful letters, with a crowd of people gathered in the background.
Photo of a crowd of people in front of a large, framed artwork hanging on the wall. The artwork depicts a young man with multicoloured body, wearing a fur cape, set against a bright yellow full moon.

Events from this exhibition

 

Opening event

Love. Respect. Pride. was launched with welcome remarks by Associate Professor Bruce Watson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Equity Diversity and Inclusion (acting), and a brief talk by exhibition co-curator, Dr Megan Fizell, Curator, Special Collections & Exhibitions, UNSW Library.

Event was held on Thursday, 2 March 2023.