'My Pop Life' is a recreation and reimagining of Brady Michaels’ teenage bedroom from the 1980s.
The exhibition encompasses posters and installations that recount the experience of being a queer teen in 1980s Tasmania, where homosexuality was illegal and the HIV/AIDS epidemic was fuelling widespread homophobia.
Employing a ‘remix’ methodology to revisit the past, the project consists of digitally produced, collage-based works referencing the pop and political culture of the era. Complemented by personal artifacts, the exhibition blurs the lines between private and public, fiction and autobiography.
'My Pop Life' explores the impact of historical events on the emergence of queerness and identity, emphasising the role of popular culture as both an escape and a source of validation.
'My Pop Life' serves as a safe space for exploration, providing an avenue to delve into challenging topics while celebrating the vibrant queer culture of the 1980s.
Image credit: Brady Michaels. My Pop Life (installation view), 2022. Plimsoll Gallery, University of Tasmania.
Counihan Gallery in Brunswick
233 Sydney Road
Brunswick VIC 3056
T: 03 9389 8622
E: CounihanGallery@merri-bek.vic.gov.au
W: Visit website
Opening Hours
Wednesday to Saturday: 11am – 5pm
Sunday:1pm – 5pm
Closed on public holidays and between exhibitions for installation.
Entry is Free.
The Public Galleries Association of Victoria (PGAV) acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the lands where our office is located, and all Traditional Owners of country throughout Victoria and Australia. We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples enduring traditions and continuing creative cultures. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
We are an LGBTQIA+ friendly organisation that celebrates diversity. We are committed to providing safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive services for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
