Artworks offer much to consider
LOCAL and regional group exhibitions offer the opportunity for a collective of artists to explore various themes, interpret experiences, share their responses, and offer the viewer much to consider.
THE TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL ART GALLERY
has demonstrated its support and encouragement of young artists by dedicating its prime Gallery One space to this year’s Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art.
It is a gripping exhibition which presents artworks by local and regional senior high school art students.
Although strongly addressing issues related to the theme of “Identity,” it is the artwork itself that immediately engages the viewer with its sophistication, its visual appeal, and its sheer presence.
The works include digital prints, drawing, installation, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, and video.
Each work invites close and careful scrutiny.
The integration of concept and resolution, the finish and presentation, and the skill level in technique and process have a maturity that is impressive.
The artist statements offer insight through stories that explore cultural, individual, and social aspects of the complex and multi-layered subject of identity.
Some are deeply personal; some acknowledge a broader perspective that involves emotional and physical stability, ethnicity, faith, history, and universal survival.
While the artwork is basically devoid of humour or a ‘lightness of being’ it has been produced by thoughtful, informed, articulate artists who have the guts to put it out there and share their perspective on life with a little hope and a lot of awareness.
THE WARWICK REGIONAL GALLERY
is showing a fascinating exhibition on tour from the National Museum of Australia.
“Warakurna: All the stories got in our minds and eyes” is more than an exhibition of Indigenous art, it is a visual narrative that combines the symbols and dots of Western Desert art with scenes and stories from everyday life.
Warakurna is a small community 300 kilometres west of Uluru for whom English is the second language.
Although the passage of language is mostly an oral tradition, the Ngaanyatjarra tongue has been transcribed on the didactic panels accompanied by an English translation.
The exhibition layout is very much a museum design and this works well as the information presented before each art work introduces the artist by name and photograph and is accompanied by their recollections of the event depicted.
These are vignettes of history recalled without emotion or political overtones, just a matter-of-fact recounting of events.
The removal of people from the rocket flight paths at Woomera and Maralinga, copper mining at Blackstone, the journey of Robyn Davidson, the camel lady, governance training, teaching about bush tucker, and local football matches.
Cultural etiquette and a respect for the traditions of Country create an understated framework bonding individuals and the wider community.
This compelling exhibition offers a thought-provoking perspective on life, perseverance, and preservation.