Published Friday, 14 November, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
New triennial contemporary art series opens at GoMA
Arts Minister Rod Welford today opened an ambitious new national series of triennial contemporary Australian art at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA).
“Contemporary Australia: Optimism will be the country’s most significant regular presentation of contemporary art,” Mr Welford said.
“Optimism, opening tomorrow (15 November) until 22 February presents works by 67 artists from every state and territory, with many art works specially commissioned for the exhibition.
“The exhibition features contemporary art by emerging, mid-career and senior Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists ranging in age from their mid-20s to their mid-80s.
“It includes hundreds of works in a diversity of media including painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, installation, video and video installation, film, animation, performance, music and comedy.
Mr Welford said the Gallery’s Australian Cinémathèque will show retrospectives of three important Australian filmmakers; Rolf de Heer, Clara Law and Ivan Sen, and a special season of Nicole Kidman films from 3 January to 1 February.
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.
Queensland Art Gallery Director Tony Ellwood said Optimism celebrated the work of artists engaging with the passion, irreverence and humour of contemporary Australian culture.
“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,” Mr Ellwood said.
“The Gallery will continue its successful Friday night program with Australia Up Late with acts by leading Australian musicians, performers and comedians including Josh Thomas, Sean Choolburra and members of The Chaser.
“Contemporary Australia: Optimism will also be accompanied by a broad ranging public program of artist talks, panel discussions and lectures, as well as a major publication.”
A complete list of artists in Optimism follows:
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, Dave Jones & Students of Macleay Island State School (QLD & VIC), 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), Ritchey Sealy (and Scott Redford) (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 contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1000
“Contemporary Australia: Optimism will be the country’s most significant regular presentation of contemporary art,” Mr Welford said.
“Optimism, opening tomorrow (15 November) until 22 February presents works by 67 artists from every state and territory, with many art works specially commissioned for the exhibition.
“The exhibition features contemporary art by emerging, mid-career and senior Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists ranging in age from their mid-20s to their mid-80s.
“It includes hundreds of works in a diversity of media including painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, installation, video and video installation, film, animation, performance, music and comedy.
Mr Welford said the Gallery’s Australian Cinémathèque will show retrospectives of three important Australian filmmakers; Rolf de Heer, Clara Law and Ivan Sen, and a special season of Nicole Kidman films from 3 January to 1 February.
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.
Queensland Art Gallery Director Tony Ellwood said Optimism celebrated the work of artists engaging with the passion, irreverence and humour of contemporary Australian culture.
“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,” Mr Ellwood said.
“The Gallery will continue its successful Friday night program with Australia Up Late with acts by leading Australian musicians, performers and comedians including Josh Thomas, Sean Choolburra and members of The Chaser.
“Contemporary Australia: Optimism will also be accompanied by a broad ranging public program of artist talks, panel discussions and lectures, as well as a major publication.”
A complete list of artists in Optimism follows:
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, Dave Jones & Students of Macleay Island State School (QLD & VIC), 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), Ritchey Sealy (and Scott Redford) (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 contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1000