New Media Art Award Finalists Announced

 
Posted by Kendall Battley   ●   18 Jun 2012
George Poonkhin Khut | Australia b. 1969 | Distillery: Waveforming (Portrait of Lian) 2012 | Still from video portraits of sitters interacting with heart rate controlled composition software for iPad | Photographer: Julia Pendrill Charles | Stylist: Troy Brennan | © Courtesy the artist

An upcoming exhibition at the Gallery is set to showcase the work of some of Australia’s top artists working in new media.

Seven individual artists and a collaborative duo have been shortlisted for the 2012 National New Media Art Award.

Finalists for the $75 000 biennial award are Kirsty Boyle (Qld); Karen Casey (Vic); Robin Fox (Vic); Petra Gemeinboeck and Rob Saunders (NSW); Ian Haig (Vic); Leah Heiss (Vic); Ross Manning (Qld); and George Poonkhin Khut (NSW).

This award program aims to celebrate the skill and creativity of Australian artists working across new media art forms. The winner of the award will be announced on Thursday, August 2, 2012, with the work of the shortlisted finalists be showcased in the ‘National New Media Art Award’ exhibition at GOMA from August 3 to November 4.

The exhibition showcases works that express challenging and innovative approaches to the use of media including robotics, artificial intelligence, interactive audio and visual installation, computer-based art, and other sound and communication technologies.

This year’s judging panel includes Suhanya Raffel, Deputy Director, Curatorial and Collection Development, QAGOMA; Amy Barrett Lennard, Director, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts; and new media artist Daniel Crooks.

The inaugural winner of the Award in 2008 was Peter Alwast. The 2010 Award went to collaborating artists Isobel Knowles and Van Sowerwine.

Major PNG Commission Heads APT7 Line-Up

 
Posted by Kendall Battley   ●   7 Mar 2012
Simon Goiyap | b.1973 | Kwoma people, Mino village, East Sepik River, Papua New Guinea | Koromb (Spirit house) | Natural pigments on pangal and carved garamut with sago leaf thatching

A large-scale commission was announced today heading the line-up for the Gallery’s flagship exhibition, ‘The Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT)’ which will celebrate its 20th anniversary when APT7 opens in December this year.

The first project to be announced for APT7 includes major commissions by a group of Papua New Guinean (PNG) artists which will be the most extensive representation of contemporary art from PNG in the APT to date.

For the past several weeks, Waikua Nera, Nikit Kiawua and Kano Loctai from the Abelam tribe, and Anton Waiawas, Kevin Apsepa, Terry Pakiey, Nelson Makamoi, Jamie Jimok, Simon Goiyap and Rex Maukos from the Kwomba tribe have been working on amazing large scale paintings, roof structures and carvings inspired by PNG’s men’s houses.

These artists from PNG’s East Sepik province, many of whom have never left the regions in which their villages are located, have travelled to Brisbane to undertake this project.

The artists are currently residing in Brisbane and working in a studio in West End while they work to bring together this commission of large scale pieces which will welcome APT visitors to GOMA’s towering foyer space.

A wide selection of masks from nine cultural groups in New Britain and the Sepik River regions of PNG have also been acquired for APT7.

The unprecedented commission has been made possible by a significant contribution from long-term Gallery supporter Ausenco, a Brisbane-based global engineering and project management services company and their joint venture in PNG Kramer Ausenco.

Santos will be the Presenting Sponsor of APT7 as part of their five-year commitment to GOMA’s summer exhibition program.

APT7 will take over the entirety of GOMA and key spaces in QAG from 8 December 2012 to 14 April 2013 and will profile new and recent art work by more than 140 artists from 25 countries.

Areas of focus in APT7 will include a consideration of temporary structures in a time of rapid urbanisation and development, a diverse group of younger generation artists from Indonesia, a special focus on West Asia, an exploration of the continued relevance of painting in the contemporary art of the region and an artistic exploration and interpretation of the APT archive.

The exhibition will be accompanied by extensive cinema screenings; publishing and online platforms; programs of performances, artist talks and lectures; Kids’ APT activities developed with artists and much more.

Visit our website for more information on APT7 and twenty years of APT.

Artists announced for ‘Contemporary Australia: Women’

 
Posted by Kendall Battley   ●   8 Feb 2012
Kate Mitchell | Australia b.1982 | Being punctual (still) 2010 | HD projection: 38:17 minutes, scale variable, colour, silent, looped | Courtesy: The artist | Photographic still: Christopher Morris

The latest in the Gallery’s ‘Contemporary Australia’ triennial series of exhibitions is set to celebrate Australia’s female artists from April this year

The line-up for the Gallery of Modern Art’s (GOMA) upcoming ‘Contemporary Australia: Women‘ exhibition was recently announced and includes 33 artists and collectives to feature as part of the large scale exhibition opening on April 21.

This exhibition follows on from the hugely popular ‘Contemporary Australia: Optimism’ at GOMA in 2008—09 and this second exhibition in the series is the most extensive regular presentation of contemporary Australian art in the country.

This latest installment will showcase new and recent work by emerging, established and senior female artists both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian.

‘Contemporary Australia: Women’ encompasses a project of performative works called Embodied Acts; a Children’s Art Centre installation by Fiona Hall; a film program curated by the much-loved film guru Margaret Pomeranz; and a GOMA Talks program of evening discussions around exhibition themes.

Exhibition visitors will be treated to more than 70 works in painting, sculpture, photography, installation, textiles, video and performance.

This engaging exhibition will explore a number of key themes relating to women including ‘performing’ femininity; sexuality; the body; motherhood and ageing; the return to everyday materials; political and social issues; and the different ways that some artists are approaching painting.

The exhibition opening weekend will be a must-see, featuring a jam-packed program of Embodied Acts, artist talks and events and an in-conversation with Margaret Pomeranz and special guests.

A full list of artists follows and stay tuned for further announcements closer to the exhibition dates.

‘Contemporary Australia: Women’ exhibiting artists include: Rebecca Bauman (WA) | Lauren Brincat (NSW) | Kirsty Bruce (QLD) | Bindi Cole (VIC) | Brown Council: Frances Barrett, Kate Blackmore, Kelly Doley, Diana Smith | Agatha Gothe-Snape (NSW) | Marie Hagerty (NSW/ACT) | Fiona Hall (SA) | Natalya Hughes (NSW) | Ruth Hutchinson (VIC) | Deborah Kelly ( NSW) | Justine Khamara (VIC) | Anastasia Klose (VIC) | Gabriella Mangano and Silvana Mangano (VIC) | Jennifer Mills (VIC) | Kate Mitchell (NSW) | Rose Nolan (VIC) | Jess Olivieri and Hayley Forward with Parachutes for Ladies (NSW): Hayley Forward and Jess Olivieri | Therese Ritchie (NT) | Sandra Selig (QLD) | Noel Skrzypczak (VIC) | Sally Smart (VIC) | Soda_Jerk (NSW): Dan Angeloro and Dominique Angeloro | Wakartu Cory Surprise (WA) | Hiromi Tango (QLD) | Tjala Arts, Amata community, SA: senior painters Ruby Tjangawa Williamson, Wawiriya Burton, Tjampawa Katie Kawiny (SA) | Monika Tichacek (NSW) | Jenny Watson (QLD) | Judy Watson (QLD) | Louise Weaver (VIC) | Justene Williams (NSW) | Gosia Wlodarczak (VIC) | Judith Wright (QLD)