Introduction to How to dismantle the world (and still feel good about yourself in the morning)

Transcript

Welcome to the group exhibition How to dismantle the world (and still feel good about yourself in the morning). This exhibition features the work of artists Cybele Cox, Madi Feist, Barrie Goddard, Isabella Hone-Saunders, Emma Pham, and Nick Santoro. The exhibition dates are 5 February to 27 March 2026 at Verge Gallery, University of Sydney, Gadigal Country. 

Verge acknowledges the Gadigal People, the traditional custodians of the land on which Verge operates. We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded. We pay our respects to all First Nations people across the world, acknowledging and respecting their relationship with land.  

Can you feel it; the sticky malaise in the air? The world is going nowhere promising, fast. Is it possible to turn things around…by tearing everything apart? This question sits at the heart of How to dismantle the world (and still feel good about yourself in the morning), the first collaboration between Verge and PULP Magazine of 2026. How to dismantle the world... presents a range of propositions for a hopeless world. Using whimsy, satire, and humour, six artists and ten writers explore alternatives to dominant capitalist pedagogy, seeking to fill the gaps within the dominant chorus of voices shaping the current trajectory of earthly existence. How to dismantle the world... encourages us to find the balance between challenging the world around us and engaging in the deconstruction of social systems and politics, without becoming disheartened or defeatist. 

More information about the artists can be found on the Verge Gallery website. 

The gallery is a rectangular open space with one movable wall in the far left-hand corner. This wall is arranged on a diagonal from bottom left and positioned up to the right. Please note that on the far side of this wall, there are two chairs arranged for viewing the video. 

For accessibility, audio descriptions of selected artworks are available and can be accessed via wall mounted QR codes near the corresponding artwork, as well as at reception. Tactile floor markings, detectable by cane, are aligned below these QR codes which are positioned one meter above the floor.  

These audio descriptions were developed by accessibility consultant, Sarah Empey, and Verge Assistant Curator, Anthia Balis, and aim to provide enhanced accessibility for all visitors, including those who are blind or have low vision.