The Changing Nature of Arts Criticism

An in conversation talk with Joanna Mendelssohn and Una Rey

Written in 1889, James Smith’s Argus review of the 9 by 5 Impression Exhibition in Melbourne remains a classic example of the anti-modern critic of the day. It didn’t prevent several of the ‘9 by 5’ artists becoming champions of Australian national art, but Smith’s style of tabloid art criticism has all but died in Australia, despite its lineage long in newspapers for over a century. What does art criticism – and the more generic cousin, ‘art writing’, have to offer an endlessly diverse art world today? Who are its intended audiences? How does criticism contribute – if at all – to the nature of how art is discussed, and by whom? What are the greatest challenges to the future of art criticism? Does it even matter? Join AHCAN alumni Joanna Mendelssohn, art historian and award-winning critic, and Una Rey, editor of Artlink Magazine, as they discuss traditions, formulas and judgements in the name of art criticism.

Joanna Mendelssohn, Guest Speaker

Joanna Mendelssohn is an Honorary (Senior Fellow) at the School of Culture and Communication, University of Melbourne. For many years she was the Program Director for Art Administration and an Associate Professor at the College of Fine Arts, UNSW, Sydney.

After working as a curator for about nine years she turned to art criticism as a way of supplementing her income while researching Lionel Lindsay and the Lindsay family. In 1988 she became the art critic for The Bulletin and was subsequently awarded the Geraldine Pascall Prize for Art Criticism. She has written for many Australian art publications, including Artlink, and is a regular commentator in The Conversation. Her most recent book (Co-authored with Catherine de Lorenzo, Alison Inglis and Catherine Speck) is Australian Art Exhibitions: Opening Our Eyes.

Una Rey, Invigilator

Dr Una Rey has over 15 years of academic teaching and research experience across art history and theory and creative practice, primarily at The University of Newcastle. In 2011 she developed the online lecture series on Indigenous Art in collaboration with AGSA and the University of Adelaide and has worked across the Australian art sector as an arts manager, independent curator and arts writer. Her writing has been published in public institutional contexts, peer reviewed journals, news media and international anthologies. She is currently Editor of Artlink magazine. Presented by the Art History & Curatorship Alumni Network, supported by Adelaide Central School of Art.

Networking drinks to follow. Please contact committee for access requirements. This event is presented on Kaurna Land.