THE EXHIBITION FOR YOUR ATTENTION
DISTRACTION plugs into the streaming torrent of content and the places our brains go when we want to focus on anything but the thing. You know… the thing you’re supposed to be doing right now? Your distraction of choice might be scrolling, daydreaming or exploring a digital universe. Where are we escaping to? What are we missing in the process? Confusion reigns, disinformation spreads and the truth is called into question. Attention becomes profit-driven, and it is hard to know who is really in control.
Yet we are creative and connective creatures, alive with an incalculable capacity to surprise. Look through a playful lens at the ways we devote our time and find space for ourselves in an increasingly nonsensical world. When we are bouncing around the whirring, flashing, pinball machine of existence, is our wayward attention a way of coping with the chaos?
Through local and international experimental projects – some developed in conversation with scientists and researchers – you are invited to participate in your own way. The time here is yours, what do you want to do with it?
Content Warning: Contains stylised computer-generated nudity, sexual themes, animated sex scenes, and coarse language. It also includes real examples of online disinformation, featuring strong language, and references to racism, climate change denial, and violence. The content is presented for educational purposes. Some works recommended for audiences 15+.
Closed from 2 May 2026.
EXHIBITS
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Bern Hall, Cass Norland, Fetle Wondimu Nega, Jeanette Chan, Qian Mo Cui, Tilly Boleyn, Zeth Cameron
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Associate Professor Andrew Perfors, Professor Eduard Hovy, Dr Jasmin Pfefferkorn, Professor Katherine Johnson, Dr Melissa Rogerson
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Laura Allcorn, Madeleine Antonellos, Raphael Arar, Dr Cass Barkman, Anastasia Beasley, Jess Blaustein, Eliza Borgeest, Andrew Brophy, Dr Mahli-Ann Butt, Tom Byers, Audrey Callanan, Anahatt Chhina, Jemima Christie, Associate Professor Kathryn Coleman, Associate Professor Simon Cropper, Derek Curry, Dr Xanthe Dobbie, Dr Cris Edwards, Ruby Edwards, Susan Forrester, Ruby Foster-Swain, Lucinda Gibson, Andrew Gleeson, Jennifer Gradecki, Cristina Guarella, David Harris, Matthew Harrison, Ambrin Hasnain, Dr Sarah Healy, Mel Huang, Jarra Karalinar Steel, Tomo Kihara, Chrysanthe Liontis, Dr Josiah Lulham, Sandy Ma, Mads Mackenzie, Ian MacLarty, Professor Gloria Mark, Sofie Mather, Dr Jacqueline Moran, Rosa Nussbaum, Colton Onderwater, Associate Professor Eddie Paterson, James Paul, Hazel Pigrum, Playfool, Claire Price, Maree Prokos, Cecile Richard, Louie Roots, Nellie Seale, Matthew Sidji, Yehwan Song, Dr Sasha Soraine, Dr Lucy Sparrow, Professor Devi Stuart-Fox, Willow Truscott, Jen Valender, Amy Zuell, Freeplay, STEM Centre of Excellence Partner Schools, Victorian College for the Deaf, Sunshine College, Gonketa, SWISP Lab, Melbourne Academic Games, Play, and Interactive Entertainment (MAGPIE) Initiative
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Studio Peter King, io Design Company
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Rightside Creative Solutions, Synthesis, Tetrik, Reveal, Decently Exposed, Image Box, Get Rigged, Flys Alone Painting, Gabriel Bethune
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Cody Buchanan, Hannah Miller, Jack Farley, Kathryn Kiely, Meg Taylor
Science Gallery Melbourne is part of the Museums and Collections Department at the University of Melbourne. This exhibition is only possible as a result of the brains, spark, good humour and excellent work of this team of human delights.
LEARN MORE
DISTRACTION ZINE
This zine brings together a series of creative responses to the themes in DISTRACTION from our curatorial panel and expert advisory group. You can pick up a physical copy of the zine for $5 in gallery, read a digital version or access a plain text version for use with a screen reader service.
