Transcendent is the first Australian solo exhibition of work by acclaimed American artist, filmmaker and writer, Tourmaline. Developed in close consultation with the artist, Transcendent is an elegant and powerful exhibition that speaks to urgent contemporary issues. Tourmaline has exhibited at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA in New York, Tate, London and more, attracting an enthusiastic following for her work at the intersection of activism and fine art. This starting point powerfully informs her resonant research into celebrated historical figures, to create work that strives to make sense of broader issues facing her communities.
Transcendent features new large-scale photographs and the global debut of Tourmaline’s newest video work, specially commissioned by ACCA. The video work extends her ongoing research into queer histories, including her recently published biography on the life and legacy of revolutionary LGBTIQA+ activist Marsha P. Johnson. Currently on an international tour for Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson, Tourmaline is sharing a story that feels deeply pertinent to the times. Figures like Johnson have become powerful symbols of the need for queer solidarity with the trans community. Johnson rose to prominence for her role in the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City – an event often linked to the queer community’s mourning of Judy Garland and their resistance to police raids. Although the story that Johnson ‘threw the first brick’ is disputed, it has become emblematic of the beginning of American queer liberation. With trans rights increasingly under threat globally, this timely exhibition invites reflection on those legacies, while challenging audiences to engage with the political present.
Transcendent will also include the first Australian presentation of Tourmaline’s iconic film Pollinator (2022). This moving single-channel video incorporates archival footage from Marsha P. Johnson’s funeral procession and community celebration. Transcendent promises to break your heart and put it back together with the strength and tenderness for which Tourmaline is renowned.
Curated by: Sophie Prince
For more information click here
