The Power of LACE Miriam Elia Powerhouse Museum ‘Love Lace’ 30 July 2011 – July 2013 Stereotypes are being challenged universally. The ‘Love Lace’ exhibition is a contemporary collection of artworks challenging the misconceptions of lace, exhibited in Sydney’s Powerhouse museum. Over 130 artists from 20 different countries have explored lace in a range of new and interesting ways and unanimously showing the significance of space in art. The exhibition as a whole engages in laces pre-perceived fragility, using it to ironically represent power and strength through the works and their meaning. This is seen through the layout of the exhibition, the campaign like advertisements, understanding the context and in particular three of the artworks; ‘Cheongsam’ by Elise Benjamin, ‘Secret Forest’ by Karen Richards and ‘Marriane’s Memories’ by Jane Thean. Walls of adverts before the exhibition walkway gives the audience a sense of the power created by the ‘Love Lace’ exhibition. The manipulation of clichéd lines, ‘Make Lace Not War’ and ‘Not Just A Thread’, engages the viewer and emits a feeling of purpose, as this is very campaign like. Contrast of red, white and black colours and the weight of the writing also give the exhibit an urgency and significance along with attracting the eyes to the bold adverts. This in itself is already challenging the popular belief of delicate lace. The horseshoe layout of the exhibition allows the audience to be directed throughout in a clear and comfortable manner, as they are forced to walk in one direction guided by the walls, instead of an open space where the audience is confused and wonders where do I go from here? The walls are black and the lighting is concentrated on individual art works, effectively highlighting them and creating a mysterious atmosphere. This allows each work to have their ‘moment in the sun’