Desire Lines

The title Desire Lines refers to the wayward, improvised tracks created by walkers and others who defy the ways designed for them by urban regulators and councils. Sometime known as ‘goat trails’ they show the preferable path, and indicate our more maverick and intuitive navigations.

Extrapolating from this premise, the exhibition takes us on a number of unexpected journeys, unleashing many lines, both actual and conceptual, pragmatic and poetic. Geographies, geometries and g-force elements are all activated in works that form poetic encounters and memorable moments, as artists seek to follow their hearts, minds and navigational desires.

Including work by more than thirty artists, this international exhibition features important and seminal works by Samuel Beckett, Bruce Nauman, Lawrence Weiner and Richard Long, videos from the significant ArtAngel commission Seven Walks by renowned artist Francis Alÿs; new projects by Mel O’Callaghan, Steven Sutcliffe, Charlie Sofo and Dan Shipsides, rarely seen works by Pierre Bismuth, Marcel Broodthaers, A K Dolven and Catherine Yass and introduces many more new artists to Melbourne audiences.

Desire Lines will also feature several key performances, including
• British artist Dan Shipsides will create one of his renowned climbing based artworks on the exterior of the ACCA building.
• Sydney artist Mel O’Callaghan will create a moving sculpture of rocks on ACCA’s forecourt.

Exhibiting Artists:
Francis Alÿs, Samuel Beckett, Pierre Bismuth, Marcel Broodthaers, Mircea Cantor, A K Dolven, Jacqueline Donachie, Willie Doherty, Tacita Dean, Rodney Graham, Joan Jonas, Leopold Kessler, Eva Koch, Jochen Kuhn, Rachel Lowe, Richard Long, David Link, Todd McMillan, Bruce Nauman, Mel O’Callaghan, Paulien Oltheten, Yvonne Rainer, Dan Shipsides, Shipsides and Beggs Projects, Charlie Sofo, Grant Stevens, Stephen Sutcliffe, Robert Smithson, Lawrence Weiner, Catherine Yass, and Akram Zaatari.