The fruitless search for true love is a common theme in the lives of Canadian-born artists Cecilia Berkovic and Katharine Mulherin, inspiring their latest project, "First Comes Love." In this installation, which will be on display in the Hartnett Gallery of Wilson Commons on the University of Rochester's River Campus from Wednesday, Oct. 9, through Sunday, Nov. 10, the artists project their own disillusionment through the notion of failure and hope, sentimentality and sarcasm.
Berkovic and Mulherin combine their artistic abilities to project these ideas through photography-based work with quirky junk culture narratives: People in fictional romantic relationships or couples wear numbered T-shirts to reflect their feelings as a mere number. The works of this installation revolve around the theme of clothing, presenting the idea that each piece carries social connotations. Whether they are numbered T-shirts, bridal gowns or bridesmaids' dresses, the clothes come with their own inherent traditions of youthfulness, sexual intimacy, and promises for the future.
Berkovic is a visual artist who works in a range of different mediums, including photography and sculpture. She has participated in residency programs at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Alberta, Canada, and at the Bauhaus Foundation in Dessau, Germany. Mulherin is a graduate of Ontario College of Art and Design, where she majored in criticism and curatorial practices. Her work has been displayed in Toronto, Montreal, New York, and Munich. Berkovic and Mulherin have worked together on design projects and exhibitions for almost four years.
Hartnett Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. An opening reception and artist's talk will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, in the Hartnett Gallery. Admission to the reception and the gallery is free and open to the public.