Present-Tense

Present-Tense began with artists comparing notes on the conditions of their own working lives, and it wears that origin openly. The curatorial aim is to take the mystery out of the labour that props up an artist's career and process — the unglamorous scaffolding behind the finished thing. Artmaking here is framed as a way of living rather than a separate pursuit, with the works shaped by everyday obligations as much as creative drive. Survival, intimacy and reflection come through as the common threads.

It sits in Jendela (Visual Arts Space) at 1 Esplanade Drive, opening Fri 21 Aug 2026 and running all the way to Sun 3 Jan 2027. Entry is free, so it costs nothing to duck in on a weekday lunch break or a slow weekend afternoon. Four and a half months is a generous window for a show with a thesis this specific — no scramble needed.