The celebratory exhibition ABSOLUTELY QUEER
has been launched at Powerhouse Ultimo. Featuring
costumes, design, artworks, fashion, activism and
multimedia. The museum’s exhibition is curating
some spectacular examples contemporary queer creativity to coincide with Sydney WorldPride 2023.
Some of the audience members at the launch were striking and eye-catching artworks themselves. They had made a serious effortto look glamorous and flamboyant.
Entertaining the crowd were some equally vibrant performers. Fabulous: Acts of Protest and Celebration by
Maurice Goldberg and Matthew Aberline is the large
installation at the entrance to the exhibition. It is
an attention grabbing artwork which is joyous and endearing but reminds us of the significant challenges.
While the exhibition’s costumes are fabulous and spectacular, we are also reminded of the confrontations and protest activity of the LGBTQIA+
community.
Acknowledging pioneering Mardi Gras creatives, the exhibition includes costumes featured in the 1996 Powerhouse exhibition Absolutely Mardi Gras, including work by Brenton Heath-Kerr,
Ron Muncaster, Brian Ross and Peter Tully.
The featured creatives include The Beautiful and Useful Studio of Maurice Goldberg and Matthew Aberline, Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay, mixed media artist Dennis Golding, multi-disciplinary artist Justin Shoulder, social justice activist and cartoonist Norrie,
drag king performer Sexy Galexy, multi-award-winning Mardi Gras costume designer Renè Rivas, Nikita Majajas of jewellery brand Doodad + Fandango with DJ Charlie Villas, gender and body diverse
fashion house Nicol & Ford, and videogame developers, animatorsband illustrators Scott Ford and Peter Foley of Fuzzy Ghost.
ABSOLUTELY QUEER will be exhibited at Powerhouse Ultimo until December 2023.
https://www.maas.museum/event/absolutely-queer/
Sydney WorldPride 2023 runs from 17th February until 5th March, 2023, and includes over 300 events. The full program is at