Destiny Deacon<br/> <em>Meloncholy</em> 2000; 2016 {printed} <!-- (recto) --><br /> from the <i>Sad and Bad series</i> 2000<br /> lightjet photograph<br /> 80.0 x 100.0 cm (image) 103.9 x 123.8 cm (sheet)<br /> artist's proof<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2016<br /> 2016.616<br /> © Estate of Destiny Deacon/ Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia <!--122161-->

DESTINY

The art of Destiny Deacon

NGV TOURING

Australian Embassy Gallery
4 Rue Jean Rey, Paris, France


5 May 22 – 2 Sep 22

This focused retrospective exhibition covers 30 years of Destiny Deacon’s career as a contemporary artist, for the first time to a French audience. Collaborating often with her late partner and long-time collaborator, Virginia Fraser, Deacon offers a nuanced, thoughtful, and at times intensely funny snapshot of contemporary Australian life. Working across media, this retrospective exhibition includes photography, video, sculpture and installation.

Early video works appear amongst the photographic prints, offering a unique insight into Deacon’s darkly comical, idiosyncratic world view. By contrasting seemingly innocent childhood imagery with scenes taken from the darkest reaches of adulthood, Destiny Deacon transports people into an uncanny valley; a chaotic world where disgraced dollies play out sinister scenes for audience amusement. This presentation also features a number of new works, revisiting a new series of work by both Deacon and Fraser.

Presented by the National Gallery of Victoria at the Australian Embassy Gallery, Paris and curated by Myles Russell-Cook, Senior Curator, Australian and First Nations Art, NGV.

First Nations