For those who have travelled in the Northern Territory and witnessed the central Australian landscape, the experience is often described as transformative. There is little to compare to the silence and vastness — the ragged beauty and an overwhelming sense of archaic time. For Japanese-born and, since 1996, London-based artist Hiraki Sawa, ten days spent…
Continue reading » “O: A multi-channel video & sound installation”
We are deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian (1924–2019) on Saturday 20 April. Over a career of six decades, Farmanfarmaian created art that was at once radical and deeply invested in tradition. She drew from Iranian architecture, the traditions of Islamic geometry and pattern, as well as techniques such…
In the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh this week, Cambodian artists who have participated in the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT) take centre stage in a landmark exhibition, acknowledging the role QAGOMA has played in supporting projects by Cambodian artists through its collecting and exhibition program. Histories of the Future places some of…
Continue reading » “Ground-breaking exhibition at the National Museum of Cambodia”
Leang Seckon’s powerful and vivid paintings are at the forefront of a growing Cambodian contemporary art scene. In his practice Seckon’s personal history is intertwined with his country’s past and its outlook for the future. This recent acquisition features in ‘The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ (APT8), opening in November this year. Leang…
Compelled to rectify voids in Cambodian history, Vandy Rattana documents everyday life, recording events that reflect the country’s rapid transformation while revealing the ever-present realities: a haunting past and an uncertain, challenging future. He captures social contexts in their natural state, avoiding stereotypes and the perspective of foreigners, to illustrate the constructs permeating Cambodian life.…
Continue reading » “Highlight: Vandy Rattana ‘Fire of the Year’”
I was admiring Kim Hung II’s fascinating mosaic Work Team Contest when a thought struck me. It’s an interesting opportunity to look at the legacy of Socialist Realism with the work of Mansudae Art Studio in the DPRK (North Korea). What struck me about Work team contest was that if you remove the brass band and…
Continue reading » “The politics of persuasion: Work Team Contest”
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.