Punchlines is a group exhibition exploring the use of humour in contemporary art, bringing together 38 of Australia’s funniest artists.

Spanning painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, textiles, mixed media, digital art, video art, and experimental practices, Punchlines highlights a wide range of mediums, styles, and subject matter, united by a shared impulse to find the joke, however subtle or subversive.

This humour may take many forms, including (but not limited to): satire and social critique, wordplay and visual puns, absurdity, surrealism, dark humour, pop art, playful disruption, appropriation, or just plain silliness. Works may entertain, surprise, or unsettle, using laughter to expose contradictions, challenge authority, critique politics or culture, or simply revel in the joy of making something funny.

This exhibition is timed to coincide with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, which is taking over the theatre at fortyfivedownstairs. For a few weeks, the building will be filled with artists and comedians alike, both attempting to perfect the art of the punchline.