Primavera: Young Australian Artists is the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia’s annual exhibition showcasing the work of Australian artists aged 35 years and under. The exhibition was initiated in 1992 by the MCA in collaboration with Dr Edward Jackson AM and Mrs Cynthia Jackson AM, in memory of their talented and creative daughter Belinda.
Since its inception, the exhibition has celebrated the achievements of early-career Australian artists and fulfilled an important role in bringing younger artists to the attention of a wide audience. Each year the Primavera curator undertakes extensive research to select participants for the exhibition, travelling across the country to meet young artists.
In its 32nd year, Primavera 2023: Young Australian Artists is guest curated by Sydney-based artist and curator, Talia Smith. She asks, what are artists creating to challenge society’s prescribed structures, built by a select few to supposedly serve and protect us? Through works in various media, including installation, video, painting, sculpture, mark-making and text, the six participating artists—Tiyan Baker (NSW), Christopher Bassi (QLD), Moorina Bonini (VIC), Nikki Lam (VIC), Sarah Poulgrain (QLD), and Truc Truong (SA)—draw on their lived experience to disrupt the dynamics of power and deliver compelling alternatives to the status quo.
