Nothing is certain, said The Curtain reimagines the legacy of modernist designer Lilly Reich, co-creator of Vila Tugendhat in Brno, Czech Republic with Mies van der Rohe in 1929. Against the backdrop of modernist architecture‘s implied certainty and stability, Lilly Reich’s curtains disrupted fixed boundaries, suggesting adaptability and ephemerality. Her work challenged modern architecture’s ideology of rigid rationality and ‘masculinity’.
By reconfiguring Reich’s curtains and furniture, artist Ali Noble reflects on Reich’s legacy of playful and innovative design, a tribute to her overlooked contribution. For the artist, curtains have long served as theatrical props to explore motherhood, transformation, and resistance to convention. Here, they remain dynamic, shifting positions and locations, embodying fluidity and inclusion. Inspired by personal experience and historical dialogue, the work invites viewers to consider access, visibility, and the enduring relevance of Reich’s radical approach to design.
Image: Ali Noble, Nothing is certain, said The Curtain, 2023, installation view, Sydney College of the Arts. Photo Document.
Wangaratta Art Gallery
56 Ovens Street
Wangaratta VIC 3677
T: 03 5722 0865
E: gallery@wangaratta.vic.gov.au
W: wangarattaartgallery.com.au
Opening Hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday - Sunday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Closed on Public Holidays and during exhibition Installations.
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.
