In the air: Curated by Jessica Clark

Next date: Saturday, 21 June 2025 | 09:00 PM to Saturday, 16 August 2025 | 05:00 PM

In the air variously explores critical perspectives on energy and power production, consumption, excess, and human impact, past, present and future. Featuring new and recent works by a selected group of Australian artists, the exhibition highlights the realities of industry, infrastructure, and technology to the detriment of Country. 

Silicon, steel, silver, cobalt, graphite, coal, nickel, copper, tin, lead, chlorine, petroleum, the list of rare earth metals (REMs) required to power life and living is seemingly endless. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tonnes of REMs are extracted across the globe, for solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles, but also anything with a screen or battery. 

In the air equally draws focus to the electrical currents and electro-magnetic waves circulating within the natural realm, in the earth, in the body, in the air, and beyond. In doing so, the exhibition is grounded by an Indigenous knowledge framework that acknowledges the interrelationship between life, materiality, and place. 

Participating artist’s channel notions of confusion, connection, curiosity, and prompt a contemplative space to consider an urgent human responsibility to act at an individual and collective level. Presented in the context of The Substation – a repurposed power station turned multi-artform space – works of art collectively draw focus to the vulnerability and wreckage inherent to the now.

The Substation Galleries are open Wednesday to Saturday, 11am – 5 pm

When

Location

The Substation, 1 Market St, Newport, 3015, View Map

Photo Gallery