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Magic in the Mundane

Stephanie Clunne
Write About Art 5
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Most of us are familiar with the cliché ‘you must appreciate the small things in life’, but how many of us have actually pondered the meaning behind this banal platitude? It is creative avenues, such as contemporary art that stimulate our curiosity, that allow us to tap into the undiscovered ‘magic’ in everyday life. When viewing things in a new light, we develop a heightened sense of appreciation and understanding of different perspectives. Most importantly, it is an acquired ability to find ‘value’ in even the most mundane things. This may come from experiencing a sense of wonder in the everyday and may pertain to aesthetic qualities or be a catalyst in delivering powerful content. 

‘Everyday Magic’ at the Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Brisbane, is a group exhibition that explores this idea of finding value in everyday items and experiences. The exhibition draws upon John Cage’s commentary regarding Robert Rauschenberg’s practice, in particular Cage’s statement: ‘beauty is now underfoot wherever we take the trouble to look’. This reference encourages us to discover the often overlooked ‘magic’ in the world. Through various mediums, including collages, videos, photographs and sculptures, Everyday Magic evokes wonder and explores how the ordinary can be transformed into the extraordinary. The featured artists, such as Donna Conlon and Jonathan Harker, Charlie Sofo, Edward Ruscha and Romuald Hazoumé, differ greatly in their mediums and content. They are, however, analogous in the way that they utilise remnants of the everyday to explore certain themes, deliver intended meanings, or simply trigger thought provoking ideas.

Upon entering the exhibition, I became immersed in its tranquil atmosphere, where audios of initially unseen videos mingle from their different sections, encouraging viewers to... The rest of this article is available to subscribers of Eyeline

Charlie Sofo, Lint from 16 items of clothing, 2008. Clothes lint with glue on cardboard, 62.3 x 66.2cm. Purchased 2009. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation. Collection: Queensland Art Gallery. 

Charlie Sofo, Lint from 16 items of clothing, 2008. Clothes lint with glue on cardboard, 62.3 x 66.2cm. Purchased 2009. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation. Collection: Queensland Art Gallery. 

Donna Conlon and Jonathan Harker, Capapults, 2012. High Definition, 16:9, NTSC, 3’40”. Courtesy the artists.

Donna Conlon and Jonathan Harker, Capapults, 2012. High Definition, 16:9, NTSC, 3’40”. Courtesy the artists.