Published on Thursday, 18 July 2024 at 2:47:50 PM
In association with Art Collective WA, distinguished Australian photographer Toni Wilkinson brings her compelling new exhibition Tough Pleasures to Albany Town Hall.
This dynamic collection of domestic portraits delves into complex themes of femininity, desire, and the absurd, reflecting ongoing debates around photography and art in today's expansive visual culture.
Wilkinson revisits her influential 2003 series, also titled Tough Pleasures, introducing new works created nearly two decades later that offer fresh perspectives on the subject.
Through her exhibit, Wilkinson reinterprets the conflicted dynamics of femininity and food, featuring provocative motifs such as forbidden fruit, sexuality, and religion.
Her masterful portraiture guides audiences on a suburban food odyssey, encountering women proudly clutching pineapples, draping their arms in prosciutto, or balancing a lobster on their laps.
Some portraits challenge unrealistic beauty and dieting standards, while others highlight shifting expectations around domestic labour or the role of food in preserving cultural heritage.
Artist Toni Wilkinson said revisiting her earlier work while creating new pieces has been an enlightening journey.
“It has allowed me to reflect on the changes in both my personal perspective and the broader societal context over the past two decades,” she said.
“I aim to capture the evolving dynamics of femininity and food, and the stories these images tell are as relevant today as they were two decades ago.
“The exhibition elegantly transitions from pathos to humour, ultimately proving that women can have their cake and eat it too.”
A moving exploration of womanhood, food, and identity, Tough Pleasures is at once contemporary and timeless, intimate, and liberating.
Audiences can view Tough Pleasures from 19 July until 31 August 2024 and attend an artist talk at 11am on Saturday 20 July at the Albany Town Hall.
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