Hannah Gadsby Art Lite: A Comedic Look At The World Of Art – Adelaide Cabaret Festival Review

ArtSpace, Sat 13 Jun Strap yourself in for a wild ride as Hannah Gadsby provides a glimpse of the ‘real’ stories behind some of the world’s most iconic – and lesser known – art pieces. Armed with a 300-slide PowerPoint and nifty laser pointer, Hannah begins by telling us exactly what we will and won’t learn during the course of her ‘lecture’. Before tackling the ‘Big Questions’ (like why does the Mona Lisa look so smug? And why are those penises so damn small?) Hannah begins with her own interpretation of the art history timeline that had the audience rolling on the floor, a place they mostly stayed for the duration. Hannah also tells us she got into art (she has a degree in Art History) simply because of the boobs, but it’s clear she has a great passion for the artworks she pulls apart onstage. Giving Dan Brown a serve for ‘making shit up’, she stresses that it’s great to get people interested in art, as long as you get your facts right first. She then went on to ignore her own advice, to the great delight of her audience. Hannah’s stuff on ‘shit portraits’ was face-ache funny as was her observations regarding women and their lack of skeletal systems in renaissance art. Finally, what do codpieces and a certain PM have in common? You’ll have to attend her lecture to find out. But beware, you will actually learn something. Rosie van Heerde Art Lite by Hannah Gadsby continues at ArtSpace, AdelaideFestival Centre, from 6.45pm on Sun 14 Jun. Book at BASS on 131 241 or bass.net.au. Click HERE to book your tickets.