Chunxiao Qu: as tragedy / as farce

Produced in partnership with Haymarket Alliance for Neon Playground 2.0, as tragedy / as farce marks Naarm/Melbourne-based Chinese artist Chunxiao Qu’s debut solo presentation in Sydney. Join us for the Opening Day Celebrations on Friday, 14 March, from 6–8pm.

Blurring the boundaries of language, ‘as tragedy / as farce’ questions uncertainty and beauty. This exhibition plays on the idea of history repeating; a moment once devastating morphs over time into an absurdist caricature. For Qu, this historical duality of tragedy and comedy is a space of contemplative reflection, continuing the artist’s ruminations on love and heartache. With the purposeful application of ambiguity, Qu’s glowing neon verses exist in a state of flux and serve as both tributes to and parodies of emotional resilience.

Header Image: Chunxiao Qu, GENIUS DON'T NEED TO WORK HARD, 2022, LED neon with transparent acrylic frames; photo by AJ Taylor. Courtesy of the artist.