This Woman is Not a Car

Past Exhibition
8 September - 30 September 2017
A pink ceramic model FJ Holden flies through the air trailing a tulle veil
A pink ceramic model FJ Holden flies through the air trailing a tulle veil

Margaret Dodd (SA)

When

8 September to 30 September 2017

ACE Open is delighted to present This Woman is Not a Car: Margaret Dodd, featuring the internationally acclaimed series of ceramic Holden cars from 1977 by local artist Margaret Dodd, together with her 1982 film of the same name. This is the first time the ceramics and film have been shown together in Adelaide since 1993.The exhibition, curated by Susan Charlton, comes fresh from its Sydney launch, which coincided with the screening of This Woman is Not a Car at Sydney Film Festival as part of the Feminism & Film program by Australian women filmmakers from the 1970s and 80s.Dodd's audacious film and ‘Funk Ceramic’ Holdens explore the feminine and the maternal; fantasy, humour and the erotic: masculinity, fetishism and violence. Once seen, the works cannot be forgotten, leaving an imprint in the brain where indelible memory resides.This Woman is Not a Car: Margaret Dodd also includes pieces from her more recent series, Chosen Vessel (2008) and Holden Hypotheses (2014), as well as prints, props and archival material from the film shoot in Adelaide in the seventies.

Feature Image: Margaret Dodd, Bridal Holden (1977), ceramic sculpture, 24 x 42 x 20 cm. Courtesy the artist. Photograph: Clay Glen

  • A grid of black and white photographs are pinned to a black wall. Beside them is a rattan basket.
  • Five rounded sculptures in white, blue and pink, sit on a black plinth against a black wall.
  • A mannequin wears a costume made up of elements representing car parts.
  • A hand sculpted model car with hair curlers on top of it sits atop a black plinth.
  • A Barbie Doll wears a costume made up of elements representing car parts.
  • A pink, hand made sculpture of a car sitting on top of four columns
  • A light pink sculpture of a car, wearing a wedding veil.
A grid of black and white photographs are pinned to a black wall. Beside them is a rattan basket.
Previous
Next
Margaret Dodd, This Woman is Not a Car (2017), installation view, ACE Open. Courtesy the artist. Photograph: Sia Duff.

Lead Artists

Margaret Dodd
Artist

ACE tampinthi, ngadlu Kaurna yartangka panpapanpalyarninthi (inparrinthi). Kaurna miyurna yaitya mathanya Wama Tarntanyaku. Parnaku yailtya, parnaku tapa purruna, parnaku yarta ngadlu tampnthi. Yalaka Kaurna miyurna itu yailtya, tapa purruna, yarta kuma puru martinthi, puru warri-apinthi, puru tangka martulayinthi.

ACE respectfully acknowledges the traditional Country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and pays respect to Elders past and present. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today.

ACE tampinthi, ngadlu Kaurna yartangka panpapanpalyarninthi (inparrinthi). Kaurna miyurna yaitya mathanya Wama Tarntanyaku. Parnaku yailtya, parnaku tapa purruna, parnaku yarta ngadlu tampnthi. Yalaka Kaurna miyurna itu yailtya, tapa purruna, yarta kuma puru martinthi, puru warri-apinthi, puru tangka martulayinthi.

ACE respectfully acknowledges the traditional Country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and pays respect to Elders past and present. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today.