by zhen -

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
by Emilia Martinez -

Koorie Heritage Trust: Wominjeka – A New Beginning

The Koorie Heritage Trust have a new home at Federation Square (Levels 1&3, Yarra Building, Federation Square, Corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, Melbourne Vic 3000) and celebrate their 30th birthday with an exhibition 'Wominjeka – A New Beginning' (19 Sep – 22 Nov 15).

"The exhibition shows the work of five early career artists, exhibited alongside pieces from the Trust's collection that have been the muse for their own artistic expression and stories." The five artists are Aunty Marlene Gilson, Georgia MacGuire, Mitch Mahoney, Josh Muir and Raymond Young. "Working with mentors, these artists have created new works in response to selected items from our collections."

The Trust collection artists are Stephen Glassborow, Wally Cooper, Tommy McRae, Glenda Nicholls, Letty Nicholls, Vena Ingram, Mandy Nicholson, Kelly Koumalatsos, Brian Firebrace, Treahna Hamm, Dorothy Lovett, William Barak, and Darren Pattie-Bux.

Wominjeka new begining 1 Wominjeka new begining 2 Wominjeka new begining 3 Wominjeka new begining 4

Gallery shots of the exhibtion Wominjeka –  A New Beginning, 2015

by zhen -

The Dirty Dozen: Prevaricated Frequencies

I reguarly go through the Flinders Street Station underground (Degraves Street Underpass) and see the gallery, which was once called Platform now called The Dirty Dozen (<- click link to apply for this free exhibition space through creative spaces). The exhibtion on now is ‘Prevaricated Frequencies’ (24 June – 5 Septetember 2015) by Skunk Control. I love seeing things with moving parts and work that make you think…"How did they do that?"

"Skunk Control is a group of engineers, educators and scientists from the college of Engineering and Science at Victoria University. The group’s aim is to communicate art through science and science through art via installations that prompt investigation and engage feelings of excitement that define the process of discovery... The exhibition expands on the team’s award-winning work at the Gertrude Projection Festival in 2014. From stalagmites and tumbling stones to butterflies and kaleidoscopic cells, their polarised worlds show that creative thought can lie at the heart of any profession."

Another interesting thing is that as they are using motors they sometimes burn out so they require maintenence every few weeks to keep this show workng.

Some times I really love a show but have such a hard time with photographing it… this is one of them. This show looks much better in person, it is a must see. Enjoy… The Dirty Dozen _ skunk control _ Prevaricated FrequenciesThe Dirty Dozen _ skunk control _ Prevaricated Frequencies 4The Dirty Dozen _ skunk control _ Prevaricated Frequencies 6 The Dirty Dozen _ skunk control _ Prevaricated Frequencies 5 The Dirty Dozen _ skunk control _ Prevaricated Frequencies 3
The Dirty Dozen _ skunk control _ Prevaricated Frequencies 2

by zhen -

Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2014

Print

The Moran Arts Foundation has announced the 150 semi-finalists for its annual Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, believed to be the world’s most valuable portrait prize.

This annual competition, established as part of Australia’s bi-centennial celebrations in 1988, has grown to be one of the country’s most prestigious art awards, attracting almost 1,000 entries in 2014, up ten percent on last year’s entries.

The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize awards an acquisitive prize of $150,000 to the winner, plus $1,000 to each of 30 finalists.

The competition invites entries of original works from Australian artists, capturing Australians from all walks of life, whether a public figure or someone from their own circle of experience.

Images of the 150 semi-finalists work, submitted from all corners of the country, are now available for public viewing at http://www.moranprizes.com.au/gallery/portrait

Thirty of these works will be selected as finalists and be on display at the 2014 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize exhibition, which will be open to the public free of charge throughout the summer, from October 29, 2014, to February 15, 2015, at Juniper Hall in Paddington, Sydney.

Below are some of my favourite works:

Joshua Cocking, Rosie

'Rosie'
Joshua Cocking

Prudence Flint, Spit

'Spit'
Prudence Flint

Louise Hearman, Bill-1383

'Bill-1383'
Louise Hearman

Dagmar Cyrulla, Alice

'Alice'
Dagmar Cyrulla

Peter Smeeth, The Stone Sculptor (Tony McWilliam)

'The Stone Sculptor(Tony McWilliam)'
Peter Smeeth

Julian Meagher, Straight Into The Sun

Straight into the Sun
Julian Meagher