|notfair| 2021
May 20-30

@ the former Kardinia Church, Chris Gahan Reserve, 61-71 McIllwrick Street, Windsor

|notfair|’s 10^th year was last year, but, due to The Plague we were obviously unable to celebrate accordingly. In 2021 we are making up for lost time in a big way.

Beginning with a comparatively humble show as an independent alternative to The Melbourne Art Fair in 2010 (thus the title, Not The Fair which was inevitably abbreviated to NotFair), the semi-regular showing of new and fresh art has by now exhibited literally hundreds of artists and helped launch many an exciting career. It has inspired numerous commercial representations, curatorial inclusions and even in some cases international residencies. It has shown a bizarre range of imaginative expressions in every media imaginable, including a semi-active particle accelerator.

This year’s |notfair| is in many ways a leap of faith. Accordingly, it seems apt that while the last |notfair| was held in a former margarine factory, its latest iteration is held in a former community hall and place of worship (The Kardinia Church). It is a leap of faith not only because of the challenges wreaked by the COVID plague, but in a time when many artists have grown understandably obsessed with issues of climate change and the very fate of Planet Earth.

And in what follows there are references to Earth aplenty – the use of earth itself as a media, depictions of the landscape irradiated and images of its denizens such as feasting meat ants. There are found objects rearranged – even the bulk of a Volkswagen Golf, grown obese with strange metallic fungus. All in all, |notfair| 2021 remains a stubborn celebration of creativity and imagination and skill in the face of adversity.

– The Curators

As an arts organization, |notfair| embraces diversity; it is the very nature of |notfair| and we will continue to support, unearth and empower artists, all different, all equal. We are excited to bring you |notfair| 2021 with a stellar line up of remarkable new artists.

|notfair| acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land upon we gather and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We recognize the strength, pride and expression of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.