Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture
Main Gallery: 13 January - 4 March 2012
Danie Mellor, Red, White and Blue, 2008, mixed media
A unique and groundbreaking exhibition, Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture features 33 established and emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, who have each produced outstanding sculptural works depicting a variety of animals. These artists, drawn from every Australian state and territory, were selected by curators Nicole Foreshew and Brian Parkes after months of research and travel seeking to expose the richness and breadth of contemporary Indigenous sculpture in Australia.
Menagerie includes fibre works by Yvonne Koolmatrie from South Australia; ceramics by Judith Inkamala from the Northern Territory; wood carving by Craig Koomeeta from Queensland; mixed media assemblages by Canberra-based Danie Mellor and Tasmanian artist Vicki West; work cast in bronze and aluminium by Dennis Nona from the Torres Strait Islands; and much, much more.
The exhibition is a collaboration between Object Gallery and the Australian Museum. Object Director, Steven Pozel, said this collection of animal sculptures reveals individual stories of both object and maker. "This significant exhibition is the most extensive survey of contemporary Indigenous sculpture to tour Australia," says Pozel. "Menagerie celebrates the art and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and demonstrates the sophistication and diversity of Indigenous art, craft and design in Australia."
Australian Museum Director, Frank Howarth, said the Australian Museum was excited to partner with Object Gallery for Menagerie, which represents a continuation of the Museum's long tradition of working with Indigenous communities and collections. "While the foundations of these collections were based on ethnographic research, the Museum is increasing its engagement with contemporary Indigenous artists and the Menagerie collaboration has provided us with the perfect opportunity to acquire significant Indigenous works which will build upon the Museum's existing cultural collections and highlight the vitality of Indigenous culture today."
Image: Courtesy of the artist and Caruana and Reid Fine Art
Copyright: Australian Museum
Opening
When: Friday 20 Januray, 6.00 - 8.00pm
Where: Wagga Wagga Art Gallery
Free event, rsvp requested
Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture is an Object Gallery and Australian Museum Touring Exhibition.
Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design is supported by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments. Object is assisted by the New South Wales Government - Arts NSW, and the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
The Australian Museum strives to inspire the exploration of nature and cultures. It is a cultural attraction and is principally funded by the New South Wales Government through Arts NSW.
This exhibition has been supported by Visions of Australia, an Australian Government program supporting touring exhibitions by providing funding assistance for the development and touring of Australian cultural material across Australia and by the Contemporary Touring Initiative through Visions of Australia, an Australian Government program; and the Visual Arts and Crafts Strategy, an initiative of the Australian Government and the State and Territory Governments.
This exhibition has been supported by the Queensland Government through Trade Queensland's Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency (QIAMEA). QIAMEA promotes Queensland's Indigenous arts industry through marketing and export activity throughout Australia and internationally.
