Special collection goes on display
INDIGENOUS artworks by Minnie Pwerle, Barbara Weir and George Hairbrush Tjungurrayi are among 150 pieces on loan to the University of Southern Queensland. Over the next two years, USQ will be the custodian of a portion of artist David Hinchliffe’s private collection, gathered in appreciation of its cultural heritage.
The significant and striking collection was unveiled this week in a seminal exhibition, curated by Hinchliffe himself.
“I believe Australian indigenous art is the best art being practised in the world today,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“There is a vibrant array of contemporary and modern work that has stemmed from most ancient cultures still living on the globe.
“There is huge demand for this work in New York, Paris, Munich and London, but I really want Australian audiences to experience and appreciate this art.”
The collection includes powerful personal and cultural stories, such as Barbara Weir’s Untitled.
“It is the perspective of a lost child, now a grown woman who was taken from her mother,” Mr
Hinchliffe said.
“The painting depicts the only memory she has of life with her mother - collecting water dripping inside a cave.
“Alongside important tales such as the Seven Sisters Dreamtime story, these works represent Australia’s cultural heritage and all Australians should embrace this knowledge.”
The loan is a watershed moment for the university, providing a significant boost in indigenous art resources available for viewing and academic study. It will be on show until February 10.