Media & Events

Resonance – a ground-breaking visual exploration of mental health issues

A contemporary response to the Cunningham Dax Collection, a historical and contemporary collection of works produced by people with a lived experience of mental health issues, opens at Contact Sheet in June 2019.

Resonance considers a range of perspectives: the individual, their mental health issues and the role of society in acknowledging and managing mental health issues, through a new exhibition of the work of artist Paul McDonald.

Resonance opens from 7 June 2019 at Contact Sheet Gallery in St Leonards.

The Dax Centre Director Charmaine Smith said, “this exhibition is a great opportunity to engage audiences in the mental health conversation and share works from the Cunningham Dax Collection to a new audience.”

“We are pleased to support the exhibition and we took the opportunity to engage artist Paul McDonald to provide a contemporary response to the collection.”

Six works from the Cunningham Dax Collection will be included in the exhibition alongside a suite of new works by McDonald, curated by Cherie McNair.  As a project initiated by The Dax Centre, it represents the first time that a contemporary artist has been invited to respond to the Collection by creating new works.

“Paul has committed his practice to exploring mental health issues and this exhibition offers an opportunity to consider the influence, legacy and commitment of Dr Eric Cunningham Dax on art therapy practice.” McNair said.

Resonance highlights works from the Cunningham Dax Collection, including works created in Victorian psychiatric hospitals between 1950-1970, alongside the new works created by McDonald after viewing the Cunningham Dax Collection.

The new works created by McDonald highlight his passion for the natural world and offer a perspective from a socially engaged artist committed to the capacity of the arts to support, change and engage with mental health.   McDonald has a particular interest in highlighting the current crisis in men’s mental health, which is a theme of his work.

Strong portraits, intimate images and fragments of the Australian landscape are a feature of McDonald’s contemporary work, shown alongside the raw, challenging works from the Cunningham Dax Collection.

resonance is a project initiated by The Dax Centre Melbourne. Curated by Cherie McNair.

Proudly supported by Bridging Hope Charity Foundation.