Launching last night, the Museum of Love and Protest looks back across four decades of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and presents a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition of costumes, photographs, iconic posters, storytelling, and rarely-seen film and video footage.
Held at the National Art School in Darlinghurst, the exhibition is free to enter and runs daily until the end of the Festival (Sunday 4 March).
"This is a must-see exhibition with incredible Mardi Gras magic on show," said Mardi Gras CEO Terese Casu in a statement.
She continued: "Visitors to the Museum of Love and Protest will experience 40 years of astonishing, creativity, storytelling, artefacts, photographs and video from amazing LGBTQI Australian artists. Many costumes seen fleetingly on the Parade route and in Mardi Gras festivals of yesteryear have been lovingly restored and beautifully presented so you can see up close the hard work which goes into each item.”
Creative Director Greg Clarke added: “As a special treat, on Friday and Saturday evenings at 6pm the Museum of Love and Protest really comes alive for the In Conversation series as special guests entertain you with their unique spin on Mardi Gras history.”
40 years of passion, pride and protest on show at Mardi Gras' Museum of Love and Protest. (Photo: Jeffrey Feng) Source: Mardi Gras
Curated by Susan Charlton and designed by Anna Tregloan, the exhibition combines visual spectacle and moments of intimacy, allowing visitors to take their time in discovering the many extraordinary stories, artists, communities and images of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Along with a number of special presentations, the Museum also invites members of the public to contribute their own Mardi Gras memories through a collaboration with costume-maker Rene Rivas in the exhibition's Pink Butterfly Lounge.
(Photo: Jeffrey Feng) Source: Mardi Gras
Attendees are encouraged to help create a unique butterfly dress that will be worn in the Parade, by Rene as part of the Evolutionary Dinner Party float.
