EXHIBITION: ANGELA ELLSWORTH

I’ve often debated with my mother over the beauty of contemporary art. She says she doesn’t understand it and that it’s ugly and I tell her what it means and why the concepts make it intrinsically beautiful, then after an hour or so of discussion she concludes with, ‘I still dont like it’. In the Biennale of Sydney there’s plenty of art for my mother not to like which otherwise has me drooling like a St Bernard. Angela Ellsworth’s Seer Bonnets are a perfect example. Ellsworth grew up in a Mormon household (her great, great Grandfather was the first prophet of the Mormon faith) and these bonnets reference Mormon polygamy. Wives of the prophets wore similar styles bonnets but the twist in these bonnets, are that they are decorated in sweet and delicate pearl tipped corsage pins. The pearl tips decorate the outer-side in seer spot patterns, while the pins sharply point into the bonnets where you might put your head. The bonnets are really beautiful but quite dangerous – it is this duality that Ellsworth is interested in. The seer spots shows Ellsworth giving them (the women) these visionary seeing powers, which were only afforded to men in the Mormon faith. They’re pretty and pretty scary but when I showed pictures to my mother, even she liked them.

Until Aug 1, MCA, 140 George St, The Rocks, free entry, mca.com.au