Grim.
Ever wondered: ‘what’s the point?’ Of course you have, you’re human and it’s time to embrace that existential dread through the bleakest exhibition you’re likely to encounter. Entrenched in despair and devoid of hope, Hope Dies Last is art at the end of optimism.
Making its world premiere as part of Melbourne International Arts Festival, Hope Dies Last is a provocative exhibition featuring works by a range of leading Australian and international artists. The exhibition challenged its contributing artists to depict a world without optimism and the results are as morbid as you’d expect.
Centred around morality, extinction, failure and suffering, the works featured in Hope Dies Last expose the demons that lie deep within us all. Rather than shying away from the raw, sharp edges of our innermost hopeless musings, the exhibition puts a spotlight on the dark side of the human psyche.
Even the works involving slight hints of dry humour won’t be enough to encourage a smile as you encounter the endless sea of pessimism and sadness. Bring a cheerful friend along for some moral support. Or don’t. What’s the point, anyway?
Hope Dies Last runs from Saturday October 5 until Saturday November 9 at Gertrude Contemporary as part of Melbourne International Arts Festival. For more information, head to the festival website.
