My Pop Life

‘My Pop Life’ is a recreation and reimagining of Brady Michaels’ teenage bedroom from the 1980s.

The exhibition encompasses posters and installations that recount the experience of being a queer teen in 1980s Tasmania, where homosexuality was illegal and the HIV/AIDS epidemic was fuelling widespread homophobia.

Employing a ‘remix’ methodology to revisit the past, the project consists of digitally produced, collage-based works referencing the pop and political culture of the era. Complemented by personal artifacts, the exhibition blurs the lines between private and public, fiction and autobiography.

‘My Pop Life’ explores the impact of historical events on the emergence of queerness and identity, emphasising the role of popular culture as both an escape and a source of validation.

‘My Pop Life’ serves as a safe space for exploration, providing an avenue to delve into challenging topics while celebrating the vibrant queer culture of the 1980s.

This exhibition features content that may be difficult for some audiences, such as references to homophobia and the 1980s HIV/AIDs epidemic.

This exhibition includes low level lighting. Please take care as you navigate the space.