Kay Abude

NEVER WORK/ STOP WORKING

2021

Silk screen on cotton work aprons

Exhibited as part of Triennial EXTRA at the National Gallery of Victoria International, Melbourne from 27 January - 14 February 2021 

 

Kay Abude’s NEVER WORK / STOP WORKING  draws attention to the work being undertaken by catering staff in the NGV’s Grollo Equiset Garden and makes their labour visible as a form of performance during Triennial EXTRA.  The artwork invites reflection from the service staff adorning Abude’s hand silk screen-printed work aprons and Triennial EXTRA audiences on ideas about the nature and meaning of work and labour in our current climate.  The text depicted on their work aprons is appropriated from artworks by Guy Debord (Never work!, 1953) and Rirkrit Tiravanija (Untitled 2015 (14,086 unfired), 2015.

 

All photographs by Margund Sallowsky.