Sydney-based artist Bonita Ely is widely regarded for her trailblazing art practice that engages feminist critique and environmental commentary. Since the 1970s Ely has been working across sculpture, installation and performance to address ecological and socio-political issues grounded in the context of Australia. This presentation focuses on two of Ely’s performance works from the 1980s – Murray River Punch (1980) and Controlled Atmosphere (1983) – that highlight human mismanagement of and interference in Australian waterways.

Ely’s research into complex environmental concerns and our relationship to the natural world continues to be a mainstay of her practice. While Murray River Punch (1980) and Controlled Atmosphere (1983) were first made over five decades ago, they retain an enduring relevance to the unfolding global ecological crisis of today.

Ely’s early eco-feminist performance work Jabiluka UO₂ (1979) is also currently on display as part of MCA Collection: Perspectives on place.

Manya Sellers Associate Curator, Collection

This is the eighth exhibition in the Artist Room, a series highlighting an artist’s work in the MCA Collection.