If You Can’t Be Good Be Careful

David Faber reviews an exhibition at a collective art space 

Kate Kurucz  If You Can’t Be Good Be Careful

9th March – 1st April 2018

Floating Goose Studios Gallery 271 Morphett St., Adelaide SA 5000

The Floating Goose Studios Inc is a cooperative enterprise of a number of emerging Adelaide artists. Works displayed are for sale at reasonable prices, if you have the necessary; visiting for a look is free. On the day we dropped in unannounced, partner Patrick Cassar was in attendance, working in the backroom. Opening hours are from Friday 3-9pm, Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 12-4pm. You could try arranging an appointment if you’re in the market to buy on 0417 818 978. The venue is handily located just off the Gouger Street café precinct, having hitherto been located in the old Trim’s site off King William Street.

Currently showing are 3 recent works by art school graduate Kate Kurucz, discussing the representation of female sexuality and interpersonal relations.

The first, a large-scale work, Babak, presents a daisy chain pentangle of dancing female nudes of various shades and body types, underscored by dragons, hearts and other symbols. It references a famous work by Matisse. The work is in oil, acrylic, crystals, pearls, nails and gold leaf on linen with a fringe.

The second, my favourite, A Freckle on a Moll, is a wry portrait evocative of a long tradition of heterodox portraiture including the Mona Lisa, of the torso of a woman in dishabille wearing a smiley face biscuit mask and a hundreds and thousands chocolate freckle on her left nipple; it’s going for a song. It is in oil on board, fabric and nails, and framed.

The third and keynote work to the collection, If You Can’t Be Good Be Careful, is again a large-scale work, and more disturbing. Again it features women wearing a variety of smiley face biscuit masks. Two of them are wrestling in leathers. Another young woman in undergarments is being set upon by five young men, who are laying hands on her. This work is in oil, glitter, feathers and nails on linen with a fringe.


David Faber is an Historian, poet and community activist, who has had essays in Australian Options and recently organised an evening of palestinian poetry. 

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