SUMPTUARY

The first sumptuary law was introduced in Ancient Greece, stipulating that women should be restricted to one maid to follow her, unless she was drunk. The laws, largely unsuccessfully, have been present throughout history as a means of trying to limit extravagance and habits of consumption. It seems clothing, food, jewellery, furniture and even gravestones have been restricted based on class, religion, sex, and ethnicity since the inscription of laws. Sumptuary, the latest opening at the Australian Centre for Photography, is a study in luxury by six of Australia’s leading photomedia artists. For an exhibition based around extravagant luxury, the collection was a little underwhelming. Limpid figures draped in cloth, formulaic still lives, and computer-generated mosaics littered the exhibition, paying lip service to the theme without great stretch. Though technically proficient and easy on the eye, the works seemed somewhat flat. Alexia Sinclair’s The Royal Dozen, recreated scenes featuring historical figures, provided some depth, but the overall impression is one distinctly lacking in sumptuary. Coming off the back of some strong exhibits at the ACP, Sumptuary was a bit of a let down, albeit a very colourful one. Perhaps someone needs to introduce a sumptuary law against excessive use of Photoshop.

Until Dec 23, Australian Centre of Photography, 257 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, 9332 1455, acp.org.au