Bloodlines

A loving tribute to the many influential voices silenced by the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and 90s

Join The Huxleys for an Artist Talk about the exhibition on Sat 10 February from 2-3pm.

Bloodlines is a multi-artform exhibition which honours and worships legendary artists lost to HIV/AIDS. The work evokes the colourful rebellious and creative spirit of these queer saints. Outwardly LGBTIQA+ artists that helped shift the worlds of queer art and culture into new realms. It pays a heartfelt debt to artists who paved the way and informed and inspired the practices of The Huxleys and countless other artists working today.

Utilising their skills of costume design, performance and photography, The Huxleys' work is designed as a joyous sparkling séance, celebrating queer excellence, interpreting each artist's influence and oeuvre in a uniquely Huxley fashion.

"Many of our creative heroes came of age in a time following gay liberation. As queer kids trying to come to terms with our sexuality, slowly seeing these heroes disappear was devastating. We wanted to bring back that joy, that freedom, that pure celebration of queer and gay love. These queer artists are our saints and deserve to be worshipped. Pray to them, and you may end up living as loud, unashamed and ridiculous as us."

Will Huxley (AUS/UK) and Garrett Huxley (Yorta/Gumbaynggir/AUS) are Melbourne-based collaborative performance and visual artists. They are lovers who joined forces and share a surname as a moniker in support of queer love.

A dynamic duo of cataclysmic proportion, a visual assault of sparkle, surrealism and the absurd saturates their practice with a glamorous, androgynous freedom which sets out to bring escapism and magic to everyday life.

The Huxleys have performed and exhibited nationally and internationally in London, Berlin, Moscow and Hong Kong. Presentations and commissions include the Melbourne International Arts Festival; Sydney Contemporary; Hong Kong Design Week; NGV; AGNSW; QAGOMA; AGSA; AGWA; Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne and the National Portrait Gallery, Dark Mofo and MONA FOMA.

Originally curated by Jacob Boehme and premiered at World Pride & Sydney Festival 2023.