‘Works of art are like jokes: They’re not good if you have to explain them.’

as tragedy / as farce is a newly commissioned body of work by Naarm/Melbourne-based Chinese artist Chunxiao Qu exploring the fluidity of language, questioning uncertainty and beauty. This exhibition plays on the idea of history repeating; a moment once devastating morphs over time into an absurdist caricature. For the artist, this historical duality of tragedy and comedy is a space of contemplative reflection, continuing the artist’s ruminations on love and heartache. With the purposeful application of ambiguity, Qu’s glowing neon verses exist in a state of flux and serve as both tributes to and parodies of emotional resilience.

Produced in partnership with Haymarket Alliance for Neon Playground 2.0, as tragedy / as farce marks Chunxiao Qu’s debut solo presentation in Sydney. Sometimes floral, often direct, Qu’s textual practice relishes in poetic brevity across the divergences found in lexicological exercises expressed in both Chinese and English.