The Beauty
Group exhibition for Dark Mofo 2026
14 June 2026
Human beings are prone to visual self-improvement, whether the historical head binding of the Peruvians or the white lead makeup of England’s Elizabeth 1. Today’s consumer society is no different, driven by internet aided businesses selling plastic surgery, gym memberships and cosmetics. How is the tender self to deal with external demands to meet ever changing physical ideals? There is little monetary value in a kind heart or a gentle wit.
The corporeal hardware is still the same, with bodies apt to suffer disease and inevitable aging. The software, however, is where money is made.
This exhibition is titled for the eponymous Disney series The Beauty where a fictitious treatment transforms the user’s body into the beauty of their dreams. A cautionary tale as you might imagine. As in the Demi Moore film, the Substance, the resulting body horror is revolting.
This exhibition asks our artists to consider our contemporary world of Mar A Lago face, Ozempic and the gender landscape. Their responses are personal and very revealing, appropriate for Dark Mofo 2026.
