Brisbane Art and Design (BAD) Festival, as an initiative of the Museum of Brisbane (MoB), is set to light up Brisbane with a wide range of exhibitions, activations, and showcases that celebrate the city's creative culture. As a partner of BAD/MoB and Bonnie Hislop, Side Gallery is thrilled to announce the launch of Bonnie's solo exhibition, Rainbows on Toast with Jam.
This collection of works captures the essence of daydreaming and living in a richly rewarding dreamscape filled with colourful joy, sass, and nostalgia. Bonnie describes the collection as a "surrealist fever dream in ceramic vessel form." Experiencing the work in person highlights this, alongside excellent technical skill, and the nature of Bonnie's whimsical personality, as well as statements on our sociopolitical circumstances, dance through in the dreamlike elements of her pieces.
Bonnie's signature typographical treatment, alongside feminist narratives and hyper-femme motifs, allows her to document the human experience through satirical quotes, childhood motifs, and bold use of colour. This unique combination elicits feelings of wistfulness and delight, making her narratives highly relatable. Rainbows on Toast with Jam is an extension of the daydream we experience when encountering Bonnie's creative and characteristically joyful work. It is the fever dream that refuses to dissipate.
Editions Most of the artworks in Rainbows on Toast with Jam are available as an edition — including all of the Toasts, Rainbows and Clouds!
Bonnie Hislop is a ceramicist specialising in hand building and ceramic illustration. Grounded in technical skill, her practice has evolved
from creating illustrative ceramic cats to large-scale sculptural work. Bonnie uses her forms to critically engage with the world around her
and document the human experience. Working from her Meanjin home studio, Bonnie meticulously handcrafts her forms through an
involved and often uncertain process inherent in working with clay. She unites bright colours and satirical shapes to engage her audience
in a dialogue with the physical world around them. Her work intersects traditional representations of ceramics with a craft aesthetic to create a contemporary interpretation of the ceramic medium. The artwork doesn’t take itself too seriously yet can capture personal experiences universal to the human condition. Her practice aims to encapsulate universal experiences of frustration, angst, grief, and emotional fatigue, as well as tenderness, intimacy and desire. The performative, brightly coloured ceramics forge an existence through joy and curiosity.
Laura Brinin is a curator of contemporary art, currently facilitating the vibrant program at Side Gallery in the heart of Red Hill, Brisbane. With an unwavering passion for nurturing connections with emerging and established creatives, Laura is dedicated to fostering artistic growth through avenues such as social media, branding, and identity development.
Laura has exhibited her own work both in Australia and overseas, as well as working as an independent freelance curator across Brisbane for over ten years. In her downtime, you can find her reading, travelling, or stalking dogs.
We partner with Art Money to make art more accessible, support artists and a sustainable creative economy. Art Money allows you to enjoy your artwork now and pay over time.
OPENING HOURS The gallery is open during exhibition periods. Please check the exhibitions page for opening dates. Monday & Tuesday by appointment Wednesday to Friday, 10 am – 5 pm, Saturday, 10 am – 1 pm
GALLERY HOURS — Paradise Gloss — Next Edition Artwork deliveries: Email or text/call us on 0409549447 to arrange a drop-off time. Opening night: Thursday, 12 December, 5 – 8 pm
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COLLECTING YOUR ARTWORK All purchased works can be collected on the last day of the exhibition or please call or text us on 0409549447 to arrange a time that suits you. If you would like to collect your artwork purchase before the close of the exhibition, let us know, and we can arrange an early pick-up.