Hidden Agendas

12 May – 1 June 2024
Hullabaloo art space
Cromwell Heritage Precinct

The masks we wear disguise our true intentions.

Behind every smile, every furrowed brow, is a story waiting to be told. In Hidden Agendas, Jen Olson paints our inner shenanigans. Her colourful figures wear goggles and expressions that might hide their true intentions - inviting viewers to consider how we present ourselves to the world, and what we hold back.

Jen's small works – most of them are 15cm x 15cm – give us a glimpse into the hidden desires and secret motives that shape our lives. With vibrant colours and textures, she picks and chips away at the social armour we wrap ourselves in (like awkward smiles, uncomfortable silences, “acceptable” hairstyles), and contemplates the raw authenticity that lies beneath.

Are her figures lost in reverie - or plotting their next move? Visitors are invited to imagine their own story for each portrait, then ponder how they reflect the truth of our own desires.
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“I see behind each mask that wonder - a kindred soul.” - Walt Whitman
“Tear off the mask - your face is glorious.” - Rumi