Three Queensland Anzacs — Hogarth brothers Alexander Forbes (1886–1915), Archibald McDonald (1879–1916) and Joseph (1877–1918) — are remembered in stained glass windows designed by local artist William Bustard (1894-1973) in St Andrews Anglican Church (illustrated) at Pittsworth, a town in the Darling Downs region, 41 kilometres from Toowoomba and 169 kilometres south-west of Brisbane, and…
Continue reading » “Stained glass windows in memory of ANZACs”
The conservator’s public image is most likely of someone cleaning an old painting with a cotton wool swab in a studio with classical music playing. However, art conservation — particularly contemporary art conservation — calls for an innovative and creative approach to the unique challenges presented by contemporary art display. Preparing fragile and complex art…
Continue reading » “Getting ready for bed: Contemporary art conservation”
‘Murun’, a Wiradjuri word meaning breath or life, and the English word ‘murmur’, meaning a low recurring sound or soft voices, are terms born far from each other — one long of this land, and one newly spoken here — but converge in untitled (giran) 2018. This major installation by artist Jonathan Jones is the…
Continue reading » “2000 separate sculptures are woven together with air”
Two paintings by Isaac Walter Jenner (1836-1902) Brisbane from Bowen Terrace, New Farm 1888 (illustrated) and View of Brisbane 1885 (illustrated) are currently on display. Such paintings at the time of their execution supplied the population of Brisbane with artistic impressions of their new home, and in some ways validating it — art as a…
Continue reading » “Go back in time when Brisbane was a busy shipping port”
This cliff in Chalk Fall 2018 (illustrated) seems solid, like the massive wall of a fortress, however on closer inspection, we see the rough waves churning beneath, and realise the cliff-face is giving way, falling into the ocean. Tacita Dean’s monumental chalkboard drawing evokes the famous White Cliffs of Dover which are eroding evermore swiftly…
Continue reading » “Subject of chalkboard drawing also composed of chalk”
We’re struck by the monumental scale and startling realism of Ron Mueck’s In bed 2005 (illustrated), then — almost voyeuristically — we are compelled to move closer to inspect the detailed texture of the figure’s hair, her translucent skin, and almost pulsing veins. Stepping back, her apprehensive facial expression and seemingly vulnerable state of being…
Continue reading » “Apprehensive & vulnerable: ‘In Bed’ by Ron Mueck”
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art stands and recognise the creative contribution First Australians make to the art and culture of this country.