What’s on in Queensland?: Australia: Defending the Oceans, at the Heart of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art

'Australia: Defending the Oceans, at the Heart of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art'
March 23rd – September 30th 2016 – Oceanographic Museum of Monaco

Welcome to the first entry of 2016 for my guest section 'What's on in Queensland?'. A major event happening in relation to Queensland is currently taking shape and will actually be held in Monaco!

Curated by Brisbane based gallery director Suzanne O'Connell (whose gallery Arts & Artists Blog has covered before), in partnership with Stéphane Jacob of Arts d'Australie in Paris, Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre in Far North Queensland (famous for its production of miniature and massive Bagu sculptures), Erub Arts (AKA Darnley Island Art Centre), Pormpuraaw Art & Cultural Centre, Ken Thaiday Snr and Alick Tipoti, the exhibition will showcase numerous works by several important Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander artists to the European art market in Monaco next month (March 23rd). The exhbition will feature large installations and will feature numerous sought after ghost net sculptures. The exhibition's overall concept is through art, to showcase the love and connection, as well as the protectiveness, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples have for and over their oceans and sea territories.

Made possible by the Federal Government's new funding scheme Catalyst (as well as with support from other government bodies, not to mention generous sponsorship from the private sector), the project is expected to be one of the largest in Indigenous fine art promotions abroadInitiatives of the kind which benefit the domestic and hence local art industry immensely (and no doubt pose a huge boon for events such as the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair) due to the exposure of Australian artists and interest generated in Aboriginal culture and fine art. For more information on the Catalyst fund and for information on eligibility and the application process, please follow this link.

While the Monaco project is still taking shape, with new works being completed and/or commissioned every day- Ms O'Connell was kind of enough to share a little sneak peak at what will be expected on display at the renowned Oceanographic Museum in Monaco as part of a larger programme of performances & artists talks as well as a special concert event. Ms O'Connell also dropped a few of the main names whose work will be exhibited to an audience of about 500,000 art lovers! Such names include Aboriginal art superstars Alick Tipoti, Ken Thaiday Snr in collaboration with Jason Christopher and Brian Robinson.

We at Art & Artists Blog hope you enjoy this preview and hope we've left you enough time to save up and book your tickets to Monaco! While you may not make it in time for the opening (to be opened privately by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco) you will have ample time to go and see the exhibition as it runs until the 30th of September. Following the opening, on the 24th of March Alick Tipoti and his team of dancers will be performing at the museum throughout the day. The event is followed on the 26th by a free public concert in Lyons at the Musée des Confluences with a performance by the Zugubal Dancers.
 
Defending the Oceans follows the Museum's tradition of exhibiting high standard contemporary works by the likes of Damien Hirst, Huang Yong Ping, Mark Dion and Marc Quinn (to name a few), and is part of the larger exhibition at the Museum titled "Taba Naba – Australia, Oceania, Arts of the Sea People". "Taba Naba" will feature two other exhibitions, Living Waters and Oceania Islanders: Past Masters in Navigation and Artistic Expression.
Jack Wilkie-Jans 
 
Aboriginal Affairs Advocate
Artist & Artsworker

W: http://jackandrewwilkiejans.weebly.com/

Alick Tipoti 'Kisay Dhangal'courtesy and copywright Alick Tipoti and Australian Art Network, photo Roger D'Souza
 Alick Tipoti Kisay Dhangal courtesy and copyright Alick Tipoti and Australian Art Network photo Roger DSouza
Bagu scultpures Museum facade, simulation, courtesy of Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, photo by Michel Dagnino
Bagu scultpures Museum facade, simulation, courtesy of Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, photo by Michel Dagnino 
Brian Robinson, Githalai II, simulation, copyright design Brian Robinson et Creative Move, copyright photo Tilt Industrial Design et The Artificial
Brian Robinson, Githalai II, simulation, copyright design Brian Robinson et Creative Move, copyright photo Tilt Industrial Design et The ArtificialEmeret Nar, 550 b 540Emeret Nar, 550 b 540,Jimmy Kenny Thaiday, Jimmy John Thaiday, Lorenzo Ketchell, Ellarose Savage, Emma Gela, Ethel Charlie, Alma Sailor, Louisa Kiwat, Racy Oui-Pitt, in collaboration wit photo by Lynnette Griffiths
Crocodile ghost net sculpture, image courtesy and copyright artist Michael Norman and Pormpuraaw Arts and Cultural Centre
Crocodile ghost net sculpture, image courtesy and copyright artist Michael Norman and Pormpuraaw Arts and Cultural Centre 
Erub Arts, Merad Turtle, ghost net sculpture, photo by Lynnette Griffiths
Erub Arts, Merad Turtle, ghost net sculpture, photo by Lynnette Griffiths
Erub Island artists fish ghost net sculptures, photo Lynnette Griffiths
Erub Island artists fish ghost net sculptures, photo Lynnette Griffiths
Oceanographic Museum of Monaco courtesy of Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
Oceanographic Museum of Monaco courtesy of Oceanographic Museum of Monaco

The National Gallery of Australia is archiving Art & Artists Blog

As an artist, being collected by one of the major Australian Galleries is a dream of mine, so when I received the email that 'Art & Artists Blog' was going to be achived by The National Gallery of Australia Research Library and Archives, I was over the moon.

The National Gallery of Australia Research Library and Archives is collaborating with the National Library of Australia to archive online publications on PANDORA, to ensure that Australians have access to their documentary heritage now and in the future. How amazing is that?

There has been some changes recently here with some new writers and I have a few more changes come soon so it is great that you will be able to see the changes over time. Click here for my achive page.

Another thing that I have found very interesting is diving through all the achived pages in the art section, I recommened you have a look too. If you have a little more time check out National Library of Australia's achive on Trove with "Find and get over 452,979,956 Australian and online resources: books, images, historic newspapers, maps, music, archives and more".

Art and Artists blog achive pandora

 

Rigg Design Prize 2015

We are happy to announce another new writer to Art and Artists Blog, Emilia Martinez. Enjoy.

Today I went to the NGV at Federaion Square (Ground, Federation Sqaure, Flinders St & Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia). The exhibition I enjoyed the most was the Rigg Design Prize 2015 (18 Sep 15 – Feb 16) on level 3, showcasing work from seven furniture designers, Adam Goodrum (NSW), Brodie Neill (TAS), Daniel Emma (SA), Kate Rohde (VIC), Khai Liew (SA), Korban/Flaubert (NSW) and Koskela (NSW) in collaboration with the weavers of Elcho Island Arts (NT).

"Recognising excellence in contemporary Australian design, the Rigg Design Prize is the highest accolade for object and furniture design in Australia." – NGV

Brodie Niell Rigg Design Prize 2015

Brodie Neill, Remix Chaise Lounge, 2008 ,wood and mixed solid surface material

Kate Rohde Rigg Design Prize 2015

Kate Rohde, 2015

Adam Goodrum Rigg Design Prize 2015

Adam Goodrum, Unfolding, 2015, transparent synthetic polymer resin, dichroic filter
manufactured by Stage One, Melbourne

Daniel Emma Rigg Design Prize 2015 1

Daniel Emma, 2015

Daniel Emma Rigg Design Prize 2015 2

Daniel Emma, 2015

Koskela rigg design prize 2015

Koskela in collaboration with the weavers of Elcho Island Arts, 2015

 

‘James Turrell: A Retrospective’ NGA Canberra

Happy New Year 2015! I have a few exciting posts​ coming up for 2015 and can't wait to share them with you. Expect more regular posting.

I was very lucky to have been able to go ​to ​ Canberra ​recently ​to visit family and see some amazing exhibitions. Today I want to talk about James Turrell's show "James Turrell: A Retrospective" 13 December 2014 – 8 June 2015 at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA), Canberra. This is a paid exhibition costing $20.39- $45.88. The more expensive premium tickets are for experiencing 'Perceptual cell', which I unfortunately didn't get to do because it was booked out when I was there. Also note that 'Within without' is part of the permanent collection and can be viewed for free, this work ​is ​best viewe​d​ at dawn or dusk to fully appreciate the lighting effects.

So what did I think? I really loved seeing & experiencing both his earlier works through to his more recent im​m​ersive​ works​. I also loved ​seeing​ other visitors have a sense of curiosity and wonder about the work. I loved the show so much I plan on seeing it again when I go back up to work on a commission and I hope to be able to get ​a ​ticket to the 'Perceptual cell'. ​P​remium tickets are selling out fast so ​if you​ plan on going to Canberra try and book the tickets now otherwise you might miss out.

As photos w​ere​ not allowed in the exhibition​,​ here are some images and a video provide​d​ by NGA.

James Turrell 9

James Turrell 
Within without 2010
Skyspace: lighting installation, concrete and basalt stupa, water, earth, landscaping
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
© James Turrell
photograph: John Gollings
James Turrell 6

James Turrell
Shanta II (blue) 1970
Cross-corner construction: fluorescent light, built space
Dimensions variable: 106.6cm (max height of aperture)
Image: National Gallery of Australia
James Turrell 1

James Turrell
Afrum (white) 1966
Cross-corner projection: projected light
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
© James Turrell
photograph © Florian Holzherr
James Turrell 4James Turrell 8 James Turrell 3James Turrell 2

James Turrell
Virtuality squared 2014
Ganzfeld: built space, LED lights
800 x 1400 x 1940.5 cm (overall)
Collection James Turrell
Image: National Gallery of Australia
James Turrell 7

James Turrell
Bindu shards 2010
Perceptual cell: fiberglass and metal. Light program
420.8 x 653.1 x 607.1 cm (sphere)
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, purchased 2014
Image: National Gallery of Australia

MoNOW opening

Manifestations of now is an exhibition of Australian artist and their how they reflect their cultures in their artwork. Spread over several venues around Fed Square with performances, videos, installations, paintings and prints this large collection of art works by contemporary artist are worth a look. There are also talks and public forums organiesed for these show.