The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) and the Power Institute, affiliated with the University of Sydney, have joined forces in a groundbreaking partnership that aims to revolutionize research on art and visual culture. The ambitious project, which will span over three years, seeks to explore new avenues of conducting and presenting research by delving into the MCA’s extensive collection, exhibitions, and archives.
This innovative collaboration will be fueled by a generous donation from Penelope Seidler, enabling the Power Institute’s new Visual Understanding Initiative. The initiative will encompass research on the science and technology of vision, the history, and politics of vision in the Pacific, and delve into themes of First Nations’ custodianship and museum practices.
The partnership’s primary objective is to unearth fresh ideas and generate novel ways of thinking that will inform the ongoing work of both organizations. In addition to research endeavors, the collaboration will feature a range of engaging activities for the public, including public lectures, seminars, and other events. It will also produce publications and digital offerings to disseminate the knowledge acquired.
One notable event in 2023 will be Image Complex 2023, a free public lecture series organized by MCA Australia and the Power Institute. This series will bring together leading thinkers of visual culture from around the world to engage in discussions on the subjects of art, visuality, and power. Through this partnership, MCA Australia and the Power Institute aim to revitalize their shared history of research, interpretation, and presentation of contemporary art to diverse audiences.
Both the MCA and the Power Institute owe their existence to the vision of John Joseph Wardell Power (1881–1943), an Australian expatriate artist and alumnus of the University of Sydney. In 1962, Power bequeathed funds to the university with the intention of connecting the Australian public with the most significant ideas in art and visual culture worldwide. This bequest led to the establishment of the Power Institute, the discipline of art history at the University of Sydney, an international contemporary art collection, and a dedicated museum to showcase it.
The MCA, initially founded as the museum to house the Power bequest, has evolved into a prominent institution dedicated to exhibiting, collecting, and engaging with the work of living artists. In 2020, the University of Sydney’s Chau Chak Wing Museum provided greater visibility to the J.W. Power bequest.
Suzanne Cotter, Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, expressed her enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “This new partnership with the Power Institute is a natural fit for the MCA Australia, which is a defining platform for contemporary art and ideas in Australia.” Cotter emphasized the shared history of the two institutions and their commitment to using contemporary art as a catalyst for research and understanding.
Professor Mark Ledbury, Director of the Power Institute, also expressed his excitement about the collaboration, saying, “We are delighted to be partnering with the MCA Australia on research initiatives that will explore fundamental questions of art and visual understanding in the twenty-first century.” He looks forward to working closely with the MCA’s exceptional team of curators and staff, emphasizing the crucial role of contemporary art practice in deepening our comprehension of the world around us.
The partnership between the MCA Australia and the Power Institute holds tremendous potential for advancing research, fostering new perspectives, and enriching the appreciation of art and visual culture for audiences far and wide.