To some people, hot chocolate is a desirable tasty drink while for others it brings back memories of music from the British pop band that was popular during the 1970s and early 1980s.

The title of the band, as well as selected song lyrics, connected with the tasty desirability of chocolate and offered a variety of themes for artists in a recent exhibition titled Hot Chocolate. 

Pictured at the Exhibition: Amy Cleland, Bronwyn Fredericks and Frances Wyld

CQUniversity Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement, and Dr Pamela CroftWarcon, Sandhills Studio, Keppel Sands were invited to write the accompanying essay for Hot Chocolate.

This exhibition was held at the South Australia School of Art Gallery (SASA) during October and November.

The nine artists in the exhibition agreed to use the lyrics of Hot Chocolate to chart their journeys in creating specific artworks. The research for their works included themes of identity and desirability starting with the lyrics from It Started With A Kiss (1983) based on the artists' desire to be the tellers of their own story.

Elements of Hot Chocolate's songs appear in all of the works. For example, the Emotional Landscape (1997-2010) series of paintings by Troy-Anthony Baylis are constructed with multiple ‘x' signifiers that are reductive and represent both ‘a Kiss' and a marker for creating imaginings of Country.

In the overall collection, the song I'll Put You Together Again (1978) has been used as title of the solidarity between creative people who are often described as ‘other' to find the joy in life and to ‘do some tastin'. Meanwhile, the song You Sexy Thing (1975) is an anthem for those who have found this tastiness and who want to believe in miracles.

Yvette Roe, who was a recent visiting researcher at CQUniversity

The last section ends with the very positive Everyone's A Winner (1978) describing a place that satisfies. In order to write the essay which has been published in the exhibition profile, Prof Fredericks viewed all of the artworks via photo images several months ago. She went along to the exhibition with several scholars from the University of South Australia, including Yvette Roe who visited CQUniversity this year.

"This exhibition speaks to the human experience of art and the artist wanting to be memorable, tasty and chosen. It really is a Winner, and that's no lie!" Prof Fredericks said.

Dark Delicacies by Pamela CroftWarcon 
Amy Cleland from the University of South Australia