Dr Helen Hughes

Dr Helen Hughes Dr Helen Hughes Lecturer Graduate research supervisor
+61 3 990 32534 Monash University Department of Fine Art Monash University Research Portal

Helen Hughes is a writer, editor, publisher and sometimes-curator.

She co-founded and co-edits the Melbourne contemporary art journal, Discipline, is a co-editor of the peer-reviewed art history journal, EMAJ, and is Research Curator at Monash University Museum of Art. Since 2013, Helen has organised the Gertrude Contemporary–Discipline Contemporary Art Lecture series, which has featured lectures by Rex Butler, Justin Clemens, Helen Johnson, Jan Bryant, Douglas Kahn, Branden W. Joseph, Terry Smith, Adrian Martin, amongst many more.

Her research focuses on Australian art history and international contemporary art. In particular, Helen is interested in theories of contemporary art – how this moment may differ from the modern and postmodern periods. Helen has written for journals such as CACSA Broadsheet, Art & Australia, EMAJ, Eyeline, Artlink, Discipline and frieze. Recent edited publications include Three Reflections on Contemporary Art History (2014, with Nicholas Croggon), Making Worlds: Art and Science Fiction (2013, with Amelia Barikin), and Impresario: Paul Taylor (2013, with Nicholas Croggon).

Helen has also worked as a curator at Gertrude Contemporary, where she presented exhibitions Marrnyula Mununggurr: Ganybu in 2015, and, co-curated with Spiros Panigirakis, If People Powered Radio: 40 Years of 3CR in 2016. Helen is currently working on the 2016 TarraWarra Biennial, which is co-curated by Discipline and TarraWarra Museum director, Victoria Lynn.

She received her PhD in Art History at the University of Melbourne in 2015.

Additional research

If People Powered Radio: 40 Years of 3CR

Installation view at Gertrude Contemporary. Exhibition 18 March – 23 April 2016.

Exhibition contributors: 3CR, Audio Working Group, Charlotte Clemens, Megan Cope, Nicole Curby, Brighid Fitzgerald, Emily Floyd, Helen Hughes, Andrew McQualter, Spiros Panigirakis, Trent Walter/Negative Press, Liquid Architecture, Lucreccia Quintanilla, Natalie Rambaldi, Reko Rennie, Arika Waulu.

Photo left: Reko Rennie, 'Radical Radio: 40 Years of 3CR', 2016; Photo right: Emily Floyd, '3CR Radiothon Posters'

The People’s Tribunal: An Inquiry into the ‘Business Improvement Program’ at The University of Melbourne

Published by Aboriginal Humanities Project, Melbourne, in association with Discipline. Edited by Marion Campbell & Philip Morrissey, with contributions by Philip Morrissey, Marion Campbell, ‘Affected Staff’, Ruth Campbell, Leo Seward, Giles Fielke, Raewyn Connell, Hans A. Baer, Adam Bartlett, Justin Clemens, Lauren Bliss, Kevin Murray, Gill H. Boehringer, Aunty Janet Turpie-Johnstone, Ted Clark, and designed by Nicholas Tammens.

Paperback: 138 pages, 114 × 177 mm
ISBN 978-0-9945388-0-2

Impresario: Paul Taylor The Melbourne Years 1981–1984

Edited by Helen Hughes & Nicholas Croggon.

Surpllus/MUMA (Monash University Museum of Art)
ISBN: 978-1-922099-08-2

Three Reflections on Contemporary Art History

Published by Discipline, in association with emaj. Edited by Nicholas Croggon & Helen Hughes, with peer-reviewed essays by Ian McLean, Amelia Barikin, and Terry Smith. Designed by Robert Milne and set in Victor designed with Fabian Harb; cover by Matt Hinkley; eBook programming by Pat Armstrong.

Paperback: 92 pages, 120 × 184 mm
ISBN 978-0-646-92006-1

Making Worlds: Art and Science Fiction

Edited by Amelia Barikin & Helen Hughes.

Surpllus
Paperback: 320 pages, 165 × 115 mm
ISBN 978-1-922-09907-5

Discipline No. 1

Edited by Nicholas Croggon & Helen Hughes, with a guest edited section by Vivian Ziherl, and designed by Warren Taylor.

112 pages, 218 × 300 mm, Softcover, Full Colour, Edition of 1000, 2011, ISSN 1839-082X

Discipline No. 2

Edited by Nicholas Croggon & Helen Hughes, with a guest edited section by Maria Fusco, and designed by Annie Wu & Žiga Testen.

192 pages, 230 × 300 mm, Softcover, Full Colour, Edition of 1000, 2012, ISSN 1839-082X

Discipline No. 3

Edited by Nicholas Croggon & Helen Hughes, with a guest edited section by Raimundas Malašauskas, and designed by Annie Wu & Žiga Testen.

244 pages + 46 page supplement, 230 × 300 mm, Softcover, Full Colour, Edition of 1000, 2013, ISSN 1839-082X