Sign up for A Tour of humour me

9 September Humour Me
7 October Superradiance
10 March Studies in Solitude
17 March History Is Rarely Black or White

Gain a new perspective and understanding of current exhibition Humour Me. Join us for this free lunch-hour tour led by our friendly Community Docents.

Caricature is a powerful art form that uses exaggeration and humour to convey social and political meaning. Humour Me traces the development of caricature, across several cultures and centuries, as a tool in dismantling power structures. While recognizing that caricature could be harmful in the reinforcement of stereotypes, this exhibition focusses on caricature that turns hierarchy on its head. The juxtaposition of opposites enabled caricaturists to vividly express ideas in rapid fashion. Through caricature, artists satirized politicians, wealthy urbanites, religious authorities and fashion trends, as well as themselves and their colleagues. The show highlights works by a number of the greatest practitioners of this art form, including William Hogarth, Thomas Rowlandson, Paul Gavarni, Honoré Daumier and Elmer Boyd Smith. It also features self-reflective caricatures by Emily Carr, Pablo Picasso and John Young Johnstone. By bringing together a selection of engaging works on paper from Agnes’s Canadian and European collections, this exhibition offers a stimulating overview of caricature’s toppling history.

The Community Docent training program is supported by the Iva Speers Fund for Art Education.