All my friends are (leaving) returning to Brisbane

curated by Isabella Baker

21 April — 16 May 2021

Housewarming Event 6 - 9pm Saturday 15 May

All my friends are leaving returning to Brisbane takes influence from the indie rom-com All my friends are leaving Brisbane (2007), directed by Louise Alston and written by Stephen Vagg. The film tells the age-old story of Anthea and Michael, two friends in their late twenties, who grapple with the decision of whether to stay or move away from Brisbane.

This narrative of friends leaving Brisbane has existed for decades, particularly within the arts, with artists and writers too-often-than-not leaving Brisbane for “greener pastures.” However, in 2020, our world was shaped by COVID-19, which also brought a new appreciation for our smaller city with its open spaces, sunny skies, and friendly faces. As such, our friends started returning to Brisbane.

The artists in the exhibition consider the return of the Brisbane exodus, prompting us to reflect on why people leave and why people return. The collaborative open-ended nature of the project invites conversations in the form of an exhibition. Together, we consider what leaving and returning might mean for the Brisbane cultural landscape going forward.

Artists
Elizabeth Willing, Chris Howlett, Archie Moore, Alice Lang, Sam Harrison, Mia Boe

Artist letters

Exhibition text

Photographs by Cian Sanders

JWAC Gallery
Cnr Brunswick and Berwick Streets
420 Brunswick Street
Fortitude Valley Q 4006
(map here)

	This project has been assisted by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.