Queensland Artists Feature In 'contemporary Australia: Optimism'

Queensland Artists Feature in 'Contemporary Australia: Optimism'

More than sixteen Queensland artists feature in the first of an ambitious new national triennial series now showing at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA).

Queensland Art Gallery Director Tony Ellwood said works by Lisa Adams, Vernon Ah Kee, Tony Albert, Chris Bennie, Julie Fragar, Sally Gabori, Christine Dew and the Students of Macleay Island State School, Robert MacPherson, Thomas Meadowcroft, m3architecture, George Nona, Scott Redford, Victoria Reichelt, Gemma Smith and Michael Zavros featured in 'Contemporary Australia: Optimism' on show until 22 February 2009.

'Within the exhibition there is a focus 'Salon' hang of smaller scale works by various artists including Lisa Adams whose work, Rose garden 2008, evokes the late twentieth-century literary genre of magic realism,' Mr Ellwood said.

'Also featured is a major work by Queensland artist Robert MacPherson which references humble home-made roadside signs to reveal the humour, invention and truth found in everyday life.

'The exhibition also includes a dramatic installation of elaborate Western Torres Strait dhoeri (headdresses) by George Nona.

'In total, 'Optimism' presents works by 67 contemporary Australian artists from every state and territory.

'The exhibition features more than 250 works by emerging, mid-career and senior Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists ranging in age from their mid-20s to their mid-80s.

'It includes a diversity of media ranging from painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, installation, video and video installation, film, animation, performance, music and comedy,' he said.

The exhibition also includes the 'Kids: Contemporary Australia' program in the Children's Art Centre and a children's summer festival (16-26 January) with arts activities staged simultaneously in Brisbane and throughout regional Queensland on Saturday 17 January.

''Optimism' celebrates the work of artists engaging with the passion, irreverence and humour of contemporary Australian culture,' Mr Ellwood said.

'The exhibition reflects the many ways contemporary artists envision the world, exploring it with hope, energy, passion, playfulness and above all, with the commitment to questioning and invention that comes out of the artist's studio,' he said.

'Contemporary Australia: Optimism' is accompanied by a broad ranging public program of artist talks, panel discussions and lectures, as well as a major publication.

More information on the exhibition and associated programs can be found at www.qag.qld.gov.au/optimism

The exhibition features works by: Lisa Adams (QLD), Vernon Ah Kee (QLD), Tony Albert (QLD), Tom Alberts (VIC), Del Kathryn Barton (NSW), Chris Bennie (QLD), Daniel Boyd (NSW), Mathew Bradley (SA), Stephen Bush (VIC), Sean Cordeiro & Claire Healy (NSW/Germany), Aleks Danko (VIC), Rolf de Heer (SA), Christian de Vietri (WA/USA), Gabrielle de Vietri (VIC), James Dodd (SA), Emily Floyd (VIC), Juan Ford (VIC), Julie Fragar (QLD), Dale Frank (NSW), Sally Gabori (QLD), Mark Galea (VIC), Tarryn Gill and Pilar Mata Dupont (WA), Kristin Headlam (VIC), Petrina Hicks (NSW), Timothy Horn (VIC/USA), Jamin (TAS), Natasha Johns-Messenger (VIC/USA), Christine Dew (QLD), Dave Jones (VIC) & Students of Macleay Island State School (QLD), Kayili Artists: Nola Campbell, Pulpurru Davies, Mary Gibson, Jackie Kurltjunyintja Giles, Ngipi Ward (WA), Clara Law (VIC), Sam Leach (VIC), Michael Leunig (VIC), Robert MacPherson (QLD), Tim Maguire (NSW/UK), Michael McWilliams (TAS), Thomas Meadowcroft (QLD/Germany), Tom Moore (SA), Arlo Mountford (VIC), Kate Murphy (NSW), m3architecture (QLD), Jan Nelson (VIC), George Nona (QLD), Raquel Ormella (ACT), Robert Owen (VIC), Debra Phillips (NSW), Patricia Piccinini (VIC), Anna Platten (SA), Scott Redford (QLD), Victoria Reichelt (QLD), Tony Schwensen (NSW), Gemma Smith (QLD), Ivan Sen (NSW), Darren Sylvester (VIC), Regan Tamanui (VIC), Kathy Temin (VIC), Arlene TextaQueen (VIC), Jane Turner (VIC), Nawarupu Wunungmurra (NT) and Michael Zavros (QLD).

Media Inquiries:
Amelia Gundelach
Media Coordinator
Queensland Art Gallery
tel: 61 (0) 7 3840 7162
61 (0) 404 994 985
fax: 61 (0) 7 3844 4827
email: [email protected]

Exhibition Images
www.qld.gov.au/media/optimism

SOURCE: Queensland Art Gallery