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Lachlan Bell

One Hand Cannot Clap Alone


Courtney Bowd, Tamara Elkins, Leila Frijat, Aksel Haagensen, Hannah McKellar, Mei Lin Meyers, Karlina Mitchell, Megan Morrall, Marleena Oudomvilay, Vella Pihlak, Olivia Reily, Kata Szász-Komlós, Megan Tan, Monica Trieu, Aarushi Zarthoshtimanesh, Olev Muska & ‘Kiri-uu’, Michail Mathioudakis, ‘Perekolmik (Family Trio)’ - Siiri Iismaa, Kieran Scott, Ella Scott and ‘String Club’ - Astrid Bell, David Suyasa, Kata Szász

One Hand Cannot Clap Alone (OHCCA)  was a curatorial project by Lachlan Bell, with assistance from Courtney Bowd, held at Comber St Studios, Paddington, from 10-17 April. The exhibition showcased archival, contemporary, and works in progress by over 18 artists, community workers, makers, and writers, and their collaborators. It was inspired by the concept of “lumbung,” exploring non-exploitative communal labour and opacity in the arts when addressing grief and lamentation. A key question posed to the audience was how to move beyond mere acknowledgment of those who helped us along the way. 

Accessibility and sustainability were prioritised across the exhibition. Seating was available in all rooms, encouraging rest and mindfulness. A simple language catalogue with large text and descriptions accommodated those with limited eyesight or English proficiency. Custom wall texts and a digital room sheet in podcast form provided alternative ways to experience the exhibition. Each artist received an exhibition booklet featuring photos taken by Liam Black and Kudos as a gift and thanks for their participation. This can be viewed online here: https://issuu.com/leafletter/docs/ohcca_2  

Framed around the expanded notion of collaboration, the exhibition highlighted making as an act of gathering, sharing burdens, and venerating interconnected experiences and overlapping timelines. The exhibition was divided into three rooms, each addressing different sub-themes: 
  • Future: Works made with others, focusing on fortunes, responsibilities, and futurity. 
  • Present: Works made for others, emphasising offerings, audience participation, and treasures. 
  • Past: Works about others, dealing with ancestral legacies, heirlooms, and the passing of time. 

Works spanned various mediums under expanded definitions of art, across animation, song sheets, vinyl records, digitised self-published magazines, zines, university homework, sculptural interventions, talismans, signed contracts, a communal library, photographic mats, a communal window, bone divination, costumes and video collages. OHCCA  featured a set of weekend workshops, including a board game session and zine-writing, allowing participants to engage directly with the show. On the final day, an online performance and curator-led tour were live-streamed via Kudos’ Instagram, providing wider access to the event. 

The opening night featured musical performances from Perekolmik, String Club and Kiri-uu, and the show featured five artworks previously not exhibited and ten artworks and performances specifically produced for the show. The curatorial approach aimed to bridge networks and communities, spotlighting both artists and artworks that might otherwise struggle to find a voice. Thank you to everyone involved, suur suur aitäh!