ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT Published Wednesday February 14, 2018
2018 at AGWA PAGE 3
WA’s leading artists PAGE 15
Millennial minds PAGE 17
The Corsinis are coming Exhibition opens 24 February PAGE 4
AGWA Collection refreshed PAGE 12
Win a trip to Italy PAGE 5
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CONTENTS
Foreword by AGWA Director Stefano Carboni . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 The journey from Italy to WA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Ticket prices and booking information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Every work tells a story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Italian flair on display at A Florentine Festival Day . . . . . . . . 8 Opera and art join forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Corsini Collection events calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 A green-fingered collaboration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Allow us to be FRANK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 What’s new in your State Art Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 History and modernity intertwine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Five decades of art movements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 A distinctly local flavour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Forging a connection with Country. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Viewing art through a youthful lens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Ancient art form made anew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Coming soon to AGWA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 A thank you to supporters and sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 What’s on at AGWA – Feb-Jun 2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Artwork: Antony Gormley Big Yield 2015. State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased through the Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation: Funds donated by John Rodgers to the Art Gallery of Western Australia, for permanent display and enjoyment by the public in recognition of the contribution by his father Kurt Rodgers to the Arts and the Gallery, of which he was a Board member from 1960 to 1970, 2016. © the artist.
Editor: Louise Allan Writers: Cassie Gunthorpe, Jack McGinn, Kaitlin Okely, Chloe Vellinga Subeditor: Rhys Graeme-Drury Design: Gemma Medforth
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Welcome to 2018 at AGWA The Corsinis are coming!
We start the year with an exciting international program close to my heart – an exhibition on Italian art! This February we welcome the only Australian display of old masters and other works from the renowned private art collection of the Corsini family. This collection is usually housed in the Palazzo Corsini in Florence and the paintings are proudly displayed on their walls. For the first time in 500 years, a large selection including some of their masterpieces are leaving the Palazzo along the Arno River and travelling to Perth. The Corsinis are one of Italy’s most eminent noble families, rising to prominence in the Renaissance era. Over the centuries they have built a significant and beautiful collection of Italian paintings that offers a wonderful taste of Italian art through the ages. As we say, it is a ‘Window on Italy’, and I’m delighted to be able to share the works with you.
Our stunning Collection revitalised
While visiting this exclusive exhibition, I encourage you to take the time to revisit the AGWA Collection – your State Art Collection. At the end of 2017, we finished a substantial reinstallation of the Collection, introducing five newly installed galleries: AGWA Six Seasons, dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art; WA Journey, presenting Western Australian art from the 1920s to today; AGWA Modern, including our holdings
from 1920 to the late 1960s; AGWA Contemporary, all post-1970; and WA Craft and Design. I’m incredibly pleased with the refreshed and wonderfully lit galleries and the different journeys you can take through them. In 2018 we’ll continue our focus on Western Australian artists with WA Now, highlighting and celebrating the work of renowned First Nation artist Julie Dowling. Later in the year we have also invited SymbioticA into the space for its biological experiential art and practice. In early August we partner with IAS – International Art Space in presenting Spaced 3: north by
AGWA Director Stefano Carboni (far left) with AGWA Curators (clockwise from top left) Carly Lane, Robert Cook, Dunja Rmandić and Melissa Harpley (not pictured Jenepher Duncan).
southeast. We also welcome back ARTrinsic in late October for the highly popular Black Swan Prize for Portraiture and early in the year Year 12 Perspectives, supported by Healthway and its Act Belong Commit initiative. If you add the annual exhibition of the Tom Malone Prize for contemporary Australian glass, the first ever display at AGWA on historical Chinese ceramics from a private Perth-based collection
and an exciting Culture Juice exhibition exploring the art of jewellery into the mix, 2018 promises to be a surprising, diverse, and exciting year of art at the Gallery. I look forward to seeing you soon. Ciao! Stefano Carboni AGWA Director
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Splendour in the arts From Italy to WA, the Corsini Collection arrives in Perth
William Yeoman Arts Writer, The West Australian
A
rt Gallery of WA director Stefano Carboni remembers the moment well. “I was wandering among the paintings in the gallery of the Palazzo Corsini in Florence and I saw something very special,” he says. It was a portrait of a young man, painted around 1540 by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio, son of the great Domenico. “It’s not a very large portrait but I saw it from a distance and it just had this luminosity that is quite amazing,” he continues. “It really was very striking.” Carboni knew this painting wasn’t on the list of works travelling to Perth for the exhibition A Window on Italy – the Corsini Collection: Masterpieces from Florence. He thought it should be. “I turned to a representative of the Corsini family who was with me and asked why it wasn’t on the list,” he says. The woman replied that they all liked it so much they couldn’t bear to be without it. Carboni however was insistent, and eventually got his wish. “I convinced her it would be one of the highlights of the show. So she relented.” Ghirlandaio’s portrait is just one of many beautiful paintings in an exhibition which explodes with
Photo: Tim Gruchy. © Tim Gruchy, 2017.
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all the colour and splendour of the Italian Renaissance and Baroque. A Window on Italy – the Corsini Collection: Masterpieces from Florence features masterworks by famous artists such as Tintoretto, Botticelli, Caravaggio, Pontormo and more. Drawn from one of Florence’s most important private art collections, they normally reside in the Corsini Gallery of the Palazzo Corsini, a magnificent Baroque palace on Lungarno Corsini. This is their first journey outside Florence, and they all have a story to tell. As does the Corsini family itself. “This exhibition is a great window on Italy because it is a short history of art from different periods in history,” Carboni says. “But on top of that it’s the history of a prominent Italian family from a city which was the pre-eminent centre for culture and the arts during the Renaissance.” The Corsini moved from Castelvecchio di Poggibonsi to Florence in the thirteenth century and wasted no time rising to prominence, at various times thanks to their connections with the powerful Medici family, in commerce, in banking, in politics, in religion – and, as patrons, in the arts. Throughout their history, there are stories of intrigue and daring, of rising and falling fortunes, but perhaps no more so than during
the twentieth century. Towards the end of World War II, Donna Elena Corsini almost single-handedly saved the family’s art collection from the retreating Nazis. And in 1966 the collection barely survived the dramatic floods that damaged valuable plasterwork on the ground floor of the palazzo. Looking at the paintings themselves, you can appreciate
Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola who took on the Medici before being hanged and burned for his trouble and the martyrdom of St Catherine of Alexandria, beheaded for refusing to renounce her faith. There is David, a bloodied sword over his shoulder, the head of Goliath swinging from his other hand, and Jael driving a spike through the head of Sisera, as told
The exhibition explodes with all the colour and splendour of the Italian Renaissance and Baroque. what the art world stood to lose. Even in sketches for larger commissions, such as Luca Giordano’s Sketch for the Dome of the Corsini Chapel in the Church of the Carmine in Florence (1682) or Anton Domenico Gabbiani’s Glorification of the Corsini Family: Sketch for the Ceiling Fresco of the Presentation Room of the Palazzo (1694-95). The Baroque flamboyance, the bravura use of foreshortening and the rhythms set up by repeated gestures and postures in these two works are dazzling, hypnotic. Then there are those dignified family portraits which tell the story of the Corsini; the startlingly lifelike images of Don Neri Corsini, Tommaso Corsini, Princess Elena Corsini and Countess Lucrezia Miari Fulcis Corsini. By contrast there are touching depictions of the Madonna and Child, of cool, classical allegorical figures and dramatic retellings in tempera and oil of historical mythical and biblical episodes. There is the charismatic
in the Bible’s Book of Judges. There is Zeus punishing Prometheus for stealing the fire of the gods by chaining him to a rock where an eagle feasts on his liver, and the mysterious capricci of Niccolò Codazzi and tumultuous seascapes of Matthieu van Plattenberg, known as il Montagna. We’re so used to cheap air travel and accommodation that it’s hard to imagine a time when an extensive European sojourn was the sole preserve of the wealthy. But for much of the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries, no gentleman or lady’s education was considered complete without undertaking what was known as The Grand Tour. Italy was an especially important destination, with cities such as Rome, Venice and Florence at the top of the list. For those on a budget or needing a refresher, A Window on Italy – the Corsini Collection: Masterpieces from Florence is the next best thing to a Grand Tour: a true window on a rich and diverse culture that is as vital and valid as it has ever been.
Booking your visit
A Window on Italy – The Corsini Collection: Masterpieces from Florence is open 24 February – 18 June, 10am-5pm, Wednesday–Monday, closed Tuesday. Allow at least one hour for your visit.
Tickets $15 Adult
$12 AGWA Member | Concession | Senior (Members see it once for free) $55 Two adult tickets and a catalogue
Eat, drink at FRANK
$37 Adult Season Pass
Visitors to the exhibition can present their ticket at FRANK for a complimentary glass of Juniper small batch Rosé with any main course menu item.
$30 Concession Season Pass $37 Family Pass (two adults plus three children) $7 Children (aged 5-17)
To make a restaurant reservation visit frankagwa.com.au
Children aged four and under, free Tickets are dated, but can be changed ahead of time without penalty Book online or in person at the Art Gallery WA artgallery.wa.gov.au
Groups
A discounted ticket price is available for groups of 10 people or more. Group tickets can be purchased in the Gallery or over the phone on 9492 6718. AGWA’s Guru Guides are also available for private tours tailored to your group’s interests. Bookings are essential, with three weeks’ notice. Minimum eight people per booking; AGWA Members minimum four people per booking. Visit artgallery.wa.gov.au/ guidedtours or call 9492 6644.
Win a trip to Italy Thanks to Singapore Airlines
Schools
Visit the Gallery with your class – AGWA’s Education Program activities allow students to explore significant and recognisable examples of the visual arts from different times and cultures in a lively and dynamic learning environment.
Your exhibition ticket could be your ticket to Italy! Every exhibition ticket purchased goes into the prize draw for a fantastic trip for two to Rome and Florence including a private tour of the Palazzo Corsini on the banks of the Arno River. Find out more at artgallery.wa.gov.au
Gallery Shop
AGWA’s shop is stocked with Corsini Collection-inspired gifts. A beautifully illustrated publication accompanies the A Window on Italy – The Corsini Collection: Masterpieces from Florence exhibition. $29.95 RRP.
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Corsini: the story behind some key artworks
William Yeoman Arts Writer, The West Australian
E
ven in the digital age, nothing beats looking at a real painting. The colours, the textures, the contours come alive in a way print or pixels can’t replicate. Face to face with the real thing, the distance of centuries, oceans and continents disappear. You’re communing with the living and the dead. Not only that: moving through a gallery in space with your fellow art lovers, you get a sense of proportion, a sense of rhythm, a sense of how each of the works in an exhibition connects with all the others. That’s why the Corsini Collection isn’t just a window on Italy. It’s a window through time, specifically onto Renaissance and Baroque Florence, but universally onto all of humanity. As Art Gallery of WA director Stefano Carboni says, nothing can match looking directly at a work of art. “Being immersed in the same space with the paintings is irreplaceable,” he says. “And the only way to make looking at a painting truly memorable. Technology is a fantastic tool for research. But its most important role is to prompt you to look at the real things.” That’s the role of this guide too: to prompt you to look at the magnificent paintings in the Corsini Collection. And to make you think about connections between the works of art, between you and the people who were alive when they were made and between ourselves as human beings. So here are six key paintings, selected from the Corsini Collection by the Art Gallery of WA’s Curator of Historical and Modern Art Melissa Harpley, which collectively give us a window onto the exhibition as a whole.
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Giovanni Santi The Muses: Polymnia c1480–1490 tempera on panel 82 x 39 cm Galleria Corsini, Florence
The painting shows Polymnia, or Polyhymnia, the Greek muse of sacred poetry, seemingly transported by the music she is playing on her small portative organ which she clasps like the Madonna would the Christ Child. Her dress recalls the fluting of a classical column, while the folds of her robes echo the contours of the cave opening which frames her. You can just glimpse the landscape beyond. Rich, muted primaries and earth tones lend a dignified harmony to the painting, hinting at the mellow harmonies of the organ. “This is a bit earlier than the Botticelli we’re going to see next,” Harpley says. “It’s quite nice that Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino, commissioned this and many other paintings for his Temple of the Muses in the Palazzo Ducale, which was right opposite his private chapel. It illustrates the fluidity between Christian worship and classical mythology that existed during the Italian Renaissance.” Compare this painting with others in the incomplete set, depicting Clio, the muse of history and lyre playing, Terpsichore, the goddess of dance and chorus, and the god Apollo.
Sandro Botticelli and Workshop Madonna and Child with Six Angels c1500 tempera and oil on board 143 cm (diameter) Galleria Corsini, Florence
This exquisite tondo, or circular painting, is profoundly tender despite Botticelli’s incisive outlines. Mother and child press their cheeks against one another, Jesus’ hands around Mary’s arms, foreshadowing the way he would bear his own cross as much as his swaddling foreshadows the winding cloth of the tomb. Melancholy angels hold the instruments of Jesus’ torture and death: the nails of the cross, the spear, the crown of thorns, the sponge soaked in vinegar. Two further angels behind Mary are about to crown her Queen of Heaven. “This says a lot about Renaissance Florence and the importance artists placed on drawing and design,” Harpley says. “Most people probably know Botticelli best for paintings on subjects from classical mythology, such as The Birth of Venus and Primavera. But this painting shows the influence of (the Dominican friar Girolamo) Savonarola, the charismatic moral crusader and reformer who successfully opposed the Medici before the tables turned and, excommunicated by the Church, he was hanged as a heretic and his corpse burned. Botticelli became a follower of his teachings, and as such, returned to focusing on Christian subjects in paintings such as this one.” No other painting in the exhibition displays the level of intimacy between mother and child.
Circle of Guido Reni Prosperity (Richness) Early 17th century oil on canvas 97 x 78 cm Galleria Corsini, Florence
An allegorical figure of prosperity clasps an urn rather than a cornucopia, and again you’re reminded of a woman holding a child. She stares out at us from the darkness, expensively yet elegantly dressed in the latest contemporary fashion, her billowing red cloak creating an energetic counterpoint to the serenity of her demeanour. “We’ve got these groups of allegorical figures. It enables us to talk about images of people that aren’t portraits as such, but the notion that a painting can embody an idea,” Harpley says. “You can talk about intellectual shifts between those ideas too. When we think of prosperity, we think of monetary wealth and material assets. But in the Renaissance it was also about intellectual and moral wealth, and about how you conduct yourself as an individual within society. There is a strong connection too with the Christian virtue of temperance.” Compare this painting with Guido Martinelli’s allegorical but more sensual Music, the woman’s shoulder bared as she turns towards us with a slight air of impetuousness.
A Window on Italy – The Corsini Collection: Masterpieces from Florence
Agostino Tassi The Fair at Grottaferrata Early 17th century oil on canvas 95 x 190 cm Galleria Corsini, Florence
Here is one of two annual fairs at Grottaferrata, the site of an ancient abbey not far from Rome. Various groups of people from all walks of life picnic and otherwise disport themselves in a sylvan landscape, with the fortifications of a church, large trees and a sky filled with scudding clouds as a backdrop. Tassi was a famous painter of moody landscapes and seascapes, and the variations of pose within the different groups give them a vitality that is echoed in the trees and clouds. “This is a very lively painting with a lot going on,” Harpley agrees. “In the other paintings we’ve been looking at, you only get a tiny view of the landscape. Here we have a very different setting for the human figure. There’s a real narrative and a different engagement with the space. It’s less contemplative. It also reflects that idea of travel and the awareness of a Northern European landscape tradition. It’s part of a shift away from the rigorous panel painting of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries towards a more visceral engagement with the human body, and with nature.” Compare this with Niccolo Codazzi’s Ruined Building and Architecture in the Countryside or Matthieu van Plattenberg’s Stormy Sea and Sailing Ship in a Storm. which represent the extremes of landscape and seascape painting.
Nothing beats looking at a real painting; the colours, the textures and the contours come alive in a way print or pixels can’t replicate.
opens 24 February. Book Now artgallery.wa.gov.au
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, known as Guercino Saint Andrea Corsini 1630 oil on canvas 75 x 65 cm Galleria Corsini, Florence
This moving portrait depicts Andrea Corsini (1302-1374), Bishop of Fiesole, beatified in 1440 and proclaimed a saint in 1629. Dressed in his bishop’s robes, his head is tilted forward as he contemplates a crucifix, which is at the same angle. His brow is furrowed, a solitary tear catching the light. “Guercino is following on from the work of Caravaggio with that chiaroscuro, that dramatic use of light and dark,” Harpley says. “It draws out the emotion, but in a different way from the Botticelli, which is a very beautiful and moving painting with strong emotional overtones. But the Guercino shows another shift, from the Renaissance to the Baroque, from emotional connection through symbolism to using more drama to get the same engagement. Talking about drama: when you see the original in the exhibition, you will notice a real bullet hole in the saint’s head. In 1944, as the Germans retreated, Princess Elena Corsini drove part of the collection to the family villa outside Florence. They were placed on the floor of one room with the saint on top as protection before the door was plastered over. When the Germans arrived, they noticed the plaster was still wet. Breaking through, one soldier, perhaps expecting to find treasure (!), was so angry he shot the painting. The miracle is no other paintings were damaged, and that the Germans left empty-handed.
Pietro Annigoni Portrait of Princess Elena Corsini 1950 oil and tempera on panel 60.3 x 48 cm Private Collection, Florence
Best known for his paintings of the British royal family, especially Queen Elizabeth II, Pietro Annigoni (Milan 1910Florence 1988) also painted President John F. Kennedy. In this extraordinary portrait, Princess Elena Corsini sits in a somewhat surreal landscape – actually the mountains of Maremma in the south of Tuscany, where the family owned property – regally looking out at us with a mixture of defiance and world-weariness. She wears a black dress and a large grey cape whose heavy folds rhyme with the mountains in the distance. In her hand is a single red rose. “Early on the men were the primary drivers of amassing and protecting the collection,” Harpley says. “Then in the twentieth, and now the twenty-first century, it’s the women who have taken on the responsibility for the care of the collection. They feel invested in it as a family history; they also recognise their responsibility to Italian culture as custodians of the collection. The current custodians talk very warmly of Princess Elena, especially about her strength of character.” There is something about Princess Elena’s gaze that recalls the unknown man in Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio’s powerful painting, which Stefano Carboni considers one of the highlights of the Corsini Collection exhibition.
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Corsini Collection comes to life at a Florentine Festival Day
T
he Perth Cultural Centre will be swept up in the vibrant culture of Italy on Saturday February 24 to celebrate the arrival of the Corsini Collection at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. A Florentine Festival Day will draw on the immersive sights, sounds, tastes and culture of Italy, offering Western Australians a window into Italian life in celebration of the exhibition’s opening day. The free event will feature Florentine and Italian history, Italian food, wine and music, and interactive activities for all. Attendees can also learn to make gnocchi with the head chef from AGWA’s FRANK cafe, taste Italy-inspired samples from familyowned Margaret River institution Juniper Wines, draw their own family crest in the gallery’s Imagination Room and take in the stories of the past with character tours of the collection. AGWA curators will also be on hand to offer their specialist insights into the remarkable Corsini Collection. With so many activities on offer, there’s sure to be something for the whole family at the Florentine Festival Day.
Showcasing talent
Festival Coordinator Nella Fitzgerald said the acts featured on the opening day would showcase the best of Italian culture. Live performances of traditional and contemporary Italian music in operatic, jazz, funk and pop styles
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will take place throughout the day, with traditional dances from the Baroque era to prove a highlight. The event will include acts from West Australian Opera, the West Australian Youth Orchestra, Italian Live Lounge, Black String Puppet Theatre and aerial performances from Natural Wings, among others. Ms Fitzgerald, who has previously produced events such as Little Italy by the Sea in Fremantle, said acts would bring a touch of Italy to Perth and bring people together, with the Corsini Collection an outstanding centrepiece. “Many people can’t go to Italy or see these beautiful works of art in Italy; it is amazing to think they’ll be able to come to the Art Gallery of Western Australia and experience the best of Italy in Perth,” she said.
On the grapevine
AGWA has a long-running relationship with Juniper, Margaret River, so it is fitting that the winemaker’s newly introduced white drop has such strong ties to Italy. The Fiano grape is grown principally in the Campania region of Southern Italy and also in Sicily, and Juniper is one of the very few grower/producers of this grape in the Margaret River region. “The wine has a saline, ocean spray quality which pairs really well with seafood, and that works really well for us here in Western Australia,” Juniper’s Operations Manager Tom Hill said. Well-received to date by the
state’s wine aficionados, Fiano will be one of three Juniper varieties available at the Florentine Festival Day alongside a Rosé and a Cabernet Sauvignon.
A historical touch
For storyteller Glenn Swift, there’s nothing better than bringing history to life. Mr Swift will be leading tours of the Corsini Collection in era-specific character during the exhibition’s time in Perth, including the opening day, and has been studying hard to get up to speed on its paintings and the people and
events behind them. “I’ll be interpreting the exhibition through story and telling the story behind the imagery,” Mr Swift said. “These are more than just paintings – I’ll be helping the people understand some of the symbolism and stories and social implications behind the collection.” Corsini Collection Opening Day A Florentine Festival 10am-5pm, Saturday February 24 Free and ticketed For more information, visit artgallery.wa.gov.au
Win a weekend away Look out for your chance to win an Italian weekend away with a two-night stay at Alex Hotel, dinner at FRANK, exhibition tickets and catalogue and an Alfa Romeo to drive for the weekend. To enter, simply cut out a coupon you’ll find in The West Australian on February 14 and February 21 and drop it off on the opening weekend.
Snap to Win Keep an eye out for the AGWA Alfa Romeo roaming the streets for your chance to win free tickets and special prizes. Snap a pic and share to social media #CorsiniCollection for your chance to win.
Florentine Festival Day Program Time
Event
10am-5pm
Family Fun Draw your family crest in the Imagination Room.
10.30-11.30am
Curator Tour Join curator Melissa Harpley on a highlights tour.
11am-12pm
Storytelling Adventures Let Glenn Swift, storyteller extraordinaire, entertain you with stories of life in Renaissance Italy.
11-11.45am
Black String Puppet Theatre performance European puppet theatre with hand-carved marionettes.
11.30am-12.30pm
Curator Tour Join curator Melissa Harpley on a highlights tour.
12-12.15pm
Dance: Sicilian and Calabrian Tarantella Performed by Little Italy by the Sea Festival Dance Ensemble.
12-3pm
Wine tasting with Juniper, Margaret River
12.15-12.45pm
Music: West Australian Opera
12.45-1pm
Performance: Natural Wings Aerial Art
1-2pm
Corsini Guided Tour Join an AGWA Guru Guides tour.
1-1.15pm
Dance: Venetian Baroque and the Volta Performed by Little Italy by the Sea Festival Dance Ensemble.
1.15-1.40pm
Music: Italian Live Lounge
1.30-2.30pm
Storytelling Adventures Let Glenn Swift, storyteller extraordinaire, entertain you with stories of life in Renaissance Italy.
1.45-1.55pm
Dance: Pugliese Pizzica 1 & 2 Performed by Little Italy by the Sea Festival Dance Ensemble.
1.55-2.25pm
Music: West Australian Opera
2-3pm
Food with FRANK Learn how to make pasta.
2.25-2.55pm
Music: West Australian Youth Orchestra String Quartet
2.55-3pm
Dance: Neopolitan Tarantella Performed by Little Italy by the Sea Festival Dance Ensemble.
3-3.30pm
Music: Italian Live Lounge
3.30-4pm
Music: West Australian Youth Orchestra String Quartet
Artistic forces unite
A
new chapter will begin in the relationship between West Australian Opera and the Art Gallery of Western Australia with the opening of the latter’s Corsini Collection exhibition, according to West Australian Opera Artistic Director Brad Cohen. The pair, intrinsically linked through their status as longserving WA arts institutions, will work closely over the course of the collection’s time in Perth to deliver an immersive Italian renaissance experience by rolling out WA Opera’s Wesfarmers Arts singing classes. The hugely successful classes were developed within WA Opera last year and allow the community to come together and try their hand at operatic singing under the leadership of vocal specialist Perry Joyce. They will now be made available within the gallery, with a focus on music complementary to the Corsini Collection, a partnership which will further the exhibition’s impact on attendees, according to Mr Cohen. “It’s a chance for guests to delve deeper into Renaissance Italy,” he said. “We’ll be doing some Renaissance music in those singing classes, and four classes are included in the ticketed program. “It’s an exciting cross
fertilisation between WA Opera and AGWA. “It’s a really strategic and considered marriage reflecting the vision and the sound of this incredible period.” While the opportunity to collaborate is exciting, the tie-in between the Corsini Collection and WA Opera goes much further. Mr Cohen said modern opera owed plenty to Renaissance era Florence, where it was developed in an attempt to recreate the music of ancient Greece and led on a path to the revered medium it is today – one that thrived on combining artforms within itself. “We have spectacle, sound, vision, acting, chorus, orchestra – opera is a massive melting pot, a lot of different elements” he said. “For us, collaboration with another art form is part of what we do all the time, but normally we integrate it into an operatic presentation on stage. “In this case we’re infusing the Corsini Collection with the music of the period. “I think it’s going to be amazing.” Singing at the Gallery Dates: March 18, April 15, May 20, June 17 Times: 5.30-7pm Four classes suitable for 18 years+ Presented in partnership with the West Australian Opera Register your interest at artgallery.wa.gov.au
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Events calendar SPECIAL EVENTS AGWA Members’ Sneak Peek
10am-12pm, Friday 23 February AGWA Members event only Meet AGWA Curator Melissa Harpley for a curatorial introduction and a private exhibition viewing before it opens to the public. A Florentine Festival Opening Day 10am-5pm, Saturday 24 February Free and ticketed Experience Italian life with an opening day celebration featuring Italian history, Italian food and wine, art-making activities (see page 9 for the full program). Corsini Collection Long Table Saturday 17 March | Ticketed Join AGWA during Eat Drink Perth for an exclusive degustation dining experience. Hear more about the Corsini family and their centurieslong patronage of the arts over an era-inspired menu with matching wines. Singing at the Gallery WA Opera Community Choir 5.30-7pm, Sunday 18 March, 15 April, 20 May, 17 June $100 | $85 Members Suitable for 18+ Whether you’re a seasoned chorister or an absolute beginner, this is your chance to experience singing as part of an opera chorus. Over four classes you will be introduced to a range of Italian repertoire inspired from the exhibition. Behind the Scenes of the Corsini Collection 6-7.30pm, Thursday 12 April AGWA Curator Melissa Harpley and exhibition staff share insights on the journey of bringing A Window on Italy to AGWA. Propel Youth Arts x AGWA: Illuminate 10am-5pm, Saturday 14 April – Monday 18 June | Free Presented in partnership with Propel Youth Arts as part of the KickstART Festival
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As part of the annual celebration of young people in WA, six emerging artists and one young curator have been selected to create a new exhibition that responds to A Window on Italy. See how they craft a contemporary response to art that spans centuries. A Morning with the Masterpieces Australian Heritage Festival 10.15am-2.30pm, Wednesday 2 May $22 | $18 Members | Includes exhibition ticket, tour, coffee and morning tea Take a guided exhibition tour on the history of Italian art, followed by morning tea at FRANK at AGWA, inspired by the recipe book featured in the exhibition. Celebrating Mother’s Day 1-2pm, Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 May $25 | $22 Members | Includes exhibition ticket, tour, and a gift from the AGWA shop Spoil mum with a tour through Italy. Take her on an exhibition tour Thursday to Saturday or join AGWA for a special Beauty and Fashion through the Ages tour on Sunday. Then surprise her with a small Corsini gift from the Gallery shop. ART BALL 26 May | $250+bf | artball.com.au Walk the red carpet into a world of mystery, mythology and decadence at AGWA’s annual flagship gala, ART BALL. Revolving around the international Corsini exhibition, AGWA will be transformed into an opulent realm of wonder and discovery with sensory experiences of palatial proportions.
TOURS AND LECTURES
Guided Tours The Corsini Collection 1-2pm, Thursday–Sunday Tour free, exhibition admission fees apply Pre-book a guided tour as part of your exhibition experience and join a Voluntary Gallery Guide for a revealing insight into this magnificent, private collection.
Sunday Series
Storytelling Adventures
2-3pm, 11 March, 8 April, 13 May, 10 June | Tour free, exhibition admission fees apply
11am-12pm and 1-2pm, Sunday 15,
Purchase a season pass and attend a tour series covering the religion, beauty, colour, and history of the Corsini Collection. History of Italian Art 2-3pm, Sunday 11 March Art and Faith 2-3pm, Sunday 8 April Beauty and Fashion through the Ages 2-3pm, Sunday 13 May The Italian Palette 2-3pm, Sunday 10 June A Window on Italy Auslan Tour 11am-12pm, Saturday, 24 March Tour free, exhibition admission fees apply | Bookings required For visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing, join this guided tour with an AGWA Guide and Auslan interpreter. Lecture Series Free | In partnership with UWA Celebrating the richness of culture, history and myth on display at the Gallery, hear from local experts: • Wed 14 March, Dr Susanne Meurer • Wed 18 April, Dr Elizabeth Reid • Wed 16 May, Arvi Wattel
FOR FAMILIES Portrait Palazzo
February – June | Free Keep an eye out for AGWA and Attack of the Robot’s travelling Portrait Palazzo and have your picture taken as a Corsini Countess and Renaissance artist.
Monday 16, Thursday 19 April | Free Join Glenn Swift, Storyteller Extraordinaire as he entertains with stories of life in Renaissance Italy. ARTBubs: A Window on Italy – The Corsini Collection 10.30am-12pm, Wednesday 21 March $25 | Includes exhibition ticket entry, tour and morning tea Parents with bubs get together for a midweek art outing. Tour the Gallery with one of AGWA’s Guru Guides, followed by coffee, cake and conversation. Prams/baby carriers and babies up to one year old welcome. Baby change facilities available.
Family Art Trail 10am-5pm, Wednesday – Monday Exhibition ticket required In the exhibition space, find Arno, one of the many dogs that the Corsini family have owned, to learn more about the artworks. During Easter, complete the trail and collect your prize from AGWA’s Information Desk. Design your own emblem 10am-5pm, Wednesday – Monday Free Do you have a family emblem, symbol or pattern with which you identify? Visit the Imagination Room and create your mark. Visit artgallery.wa.gov.au for more information and to book online. All information correct at time of printing, may be subject to change.
‘Forage’ farm an urban oasis
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ust outside AGWA’s Micro Garden Gallery an urban jungle is providing fresh produce to some of Perth’s top restaurants, and opportunities for job seekers. The AGWA Botanical Urban Farm is a creative collaboration between AGWA and Green World Revolution, a not-for-profit social enterprise that uses urban farming to assist the long-term unemployed. Green World Revolution CEO Toby Whittington said the urban farm was built over six months from 2016-2017 through the Work for the Dole program, alongside Communicare Inc as a service provider. “We were introduced to the Art Gallery and saw the possibility of activating the disused space,” Mr Whittington said. A team of 48 transformed the space into the thriving garden it is today, offering herbs, edible flowers and a range of vegetables.
Mr Whittington said the garden mostly included “cut and come again plants” such as silver beet, where the leaves could be picked several times over. “We’re trying to have diversity and self-seeding so we only need to plant things once,” he said. “The idea for the farm is a ‘forage’ farm so either we can forage or the chefs can come and harvest and pack up their own produce.” The farm is tended by one person three days a week while others assist to fill orders and deliver them by bicycle throughout the city five days a week. Mr Whittington said providing opportunities for the long-term unemployed gave him the most enjoyment through the whole process and was the reason he established Green World Revolution. The AGWA Botanical Urban Farm is the not-for-profit’s second city farm, with the first being in Gladstone Street, East Perth.
GWR Urban Farm Crew: from left, Tristan Clark, Jessica Balmer, Edward Collins, Toby Whittington and Tristan Seal.
Private events at the Gallery AGWA is one of Perth’s most impressive venues for private event hire from product launches and board meetings to exclusive cocktail parties and formal dinners. Catering from eight to 800 guests, AGWA can tailor any event to suit your needs, incorporating the diverse and dynamic artworks and exhibitions on display at the Gallery. From the main function venue of the Concourse to the lecture theatre, outdoor terrace, boardrooms, AGWA has the perfect space to hold your next event. Contact the Events Coordinator on +61 8 9492 6771 or functions@artgallery.wa.gov.au
Journey for your tastebuds
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ood is also something of an art at AGWA with its very own in-house Italian restaurant offering visitors a journey for their tastebuds. Opening late last year, FRANK beautifully complements the Gallery’s collections with a casual, yet sophisticated dining experience. General Manager of Trippas White Group in Sydney, Patrick McCartney was responsible for the creation of the FRANK brand. The restaurant, which is located next to the Gallery’s foyer, is the initial introduction for visitors to AGWA. “The Trippas White Group saw the opportunity to partner with AGWA as a unique and prestigious one that would fit well with the aspirations of both AGWA and the Cultural Precinct itself,” Mr McCartney said. “FRANK was born from our desire to provide the Perth culinary scene, in the Cultural Centre, a casual experience with simple and honest food showcasing an Italian influence.” FRANK offers coffee and pastries for a short pit stop, lunches and after-work catch ups, in addition to its pre-show dinners or post-exhibition drinks. The restaurant works with local produce to pay homage to regional Italian dishes, with
simple takes on traditional flavours. Free-range salami and other charcuterie favourites and artisan breads can be enjoyed, along with hearty dinner favourites such as gnocchi. Mr McCartney said the name FRANK was simple, honest and straightforward and represented what the restaurant hoped to achieve. The new fit out was done by Trippas White’s design partner Mata Design who incorporated one of the largest disco balls in the Southern Hemisphere into the space. During the upcoming exhibition, A Window on Italy – The Corsini Collection, which opens on February 24, FRANK will be featuring menu items replicating those from the Corsini recipe collection from 1881. “Whenever we can, FRANK aims to complement AGWA exhibitions,” Mr McCartney said. “As the Corsini exhibition features masterpieces from Florence there is an obvious synergy given our Italian flavours and influence.” Visitors to the exhibition can present their ticket at FRANK for a complimentary glass of Juniper small batch rosé with any main course menu item. To make a restaurant reservation visit frankagwa.com.au
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Different every time you visit AGWA Collection galleries refreshed
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rowing from a single work purchased in 1895 to now more than 17,500 works of art, the AGWA Collection is one of the finest public art collections in Australia. Each year the Collection grows by a few hundred works, thanks in large part to the generous support of AGWA’s foundation members and private donors. Recently, AGWA’s displays have undergone a major change and are now divided into five thematic spaces; AGWA Historical, AGWA Modern, AGWA Contemporary, Six Seasons and WA Unlimited. The Six Seasons and WA Unlimited galleries are of particular note as they represent new groupings of work, with Six Seasons focusing on all Indigenous material and WA Unlimited showcasing local artistic achievement. All of these newly opened spaces feature many works that are new to the AGWA Collection or have not been seen for many years. AGWA Curator of Contemporary Design and International Art Robert Cook said the character of the collection changes with each new acquisition. “Having a chance to redo our
Visitors enjoying the WA Journey gallery. Artwork: Jurek Wybraniec The icon and the bath no. 13 1988. State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased 1989.
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displays is so exciting for all of us as we get to update what we can offer in a way that opens up everyone’s perception of what we have,” Dr Cook said. “In doing so we create new pathways around the gallery and new experiences for viewers. “With a focus on these new categories, we can make fresh bold statements that, whilst including old favourites, feel completely fresh.” The majority of new acquisitions tend to be contemporary works that reflect the concerns and inspirations of practising artists; however, the gallery also acquires selected post1800 historical and modern works to complement the collection. AGWA Director Stefano Carboni said a trip to the gallery was greatly enhanced by attending a guided tour, artist talk, reading the extended labels or watching AGWA’s insight videos to further dive into the works on display. “I hope visitors are surprised, delighted and a little more alive after a visit to the gallery,” Dr Carboni said. “That’s what I feel when I walk through the spaces and see the works on the wall. I want to share that magic with others.” Visitors are now
able to enjoy even more local and Australian material with the addition of the Six Seasons and WA Journey (part of WA Unlimited) galleries. “It has been so great to be able to showcase our WA material in a dedicated space,” Dr Cook said. “It really demonstrates the depth and quality of art practice here, and a scene made up of Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists always finding creative and thoughtful ways to depict what it is to live and work in this place.” Dr Carboni said the Six Seasons
project included the ambition to make the entire AGWA collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander works available online. “AGWA has a very strong holding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, with over 3000 works in the collection,” Dr Carboni said. “Until June, Six Seasons focuses on works that deal with the concept of ‘outside” – the importance that Country holds for Aboriginal people and also the notion of being considered an outsider in society.”
GUIDED TOURS BRING THE GALLERY TO LIFE There is nothing like a personal interaction to spark the imagination. Join one of AGWA’s passionate Voluntary Gallery Guides on a free Wesfarmers Arts guided tour of the AGWA Collection. Tours run daily (except Tuesdays) and are a great way to gain deeper insights and revealing glimpses into the works, the era and the artists. For the full guided tour program, visit artgallery.wa.gov.au
Pippin Drysdale Dusk ridge line 2011
porcelain nine vessels: dimensions variable State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia Purchased through the TomorrowFund, Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation, 2012
Frederick McCubbin Down on His Luck 1889
A mix of old and new Visit AGWA’s Historical and Modern galleries
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lassical pieces sit alongside bold new art styles, with the Art Gallery of Western Australia setting aside two spaces for the Historical collection and the Modern collection, taking audiences through a journey of two diverse periods.
Stepping back in time
Presenting works from the 1800s to the 1910s, the Historical collection takes audiences on a journey through some of the key art movements of the nineteenth century. Art Gallery of WA Curator of Historical and Modern Art Melissa Harpley said the display showcased works from many European and Australian artists, including impressionist painter and art teacher Frederick McCubbin. “The gallery highlights some of our strengths in landscape painting in the nineteenth century, but also figure painting from that period as well,” Ms Harpley said. “Frederick McCubbin was a Melbourne-based painter during the nineteenth century. He painted alongside other well-known Australian artists like Tom Roberts and Arthur Streeton. Together they were interested in making a grand statement in terms of painting in Australia and trying to develop subject matter and a style
of painting that reflected what they thought was Australia’s position as a nation at the time.” Frederick McCubbin’s wellknown piece Down on His Luck is an outstanding example of work completed during this period. The painting depicts a seemingly disheartened swagman sitting by a campfire within a thick Australian bush countryside setting. Other works within the gallery include two superb paintings by Austrian-born artist Eugene von Guerard, who was working in Australia during the 1850s, as well as a selection of slightly later work by a group of artists working in WA during the 1890s and 1910s. “These collections include works by George Pitt Morison and Daisy Rossi and feature images of the early Perth scene and the Swan River,” Ms Harpley said. “There are some standout paintings from artists who were working in Europe, who started to become aware of the work the French Impressionists were undertaking. These include a beautiful seascape by John Peter Russell, who was an Australian artist and a friend of Monet, and a beautiful painting of yacht racing by Philip Wilson Steer.” An engaging and relatable display, the Historical collection provides audiences with an appreciation of
oil on canvas 145 x 183.3 x 14 cm (framed), 114.5 x 152.5 cm (painting) State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia Purchased 1896
portraiture and landscape pieces from the 1800s to the 1910s, before they step into an entirely different style of art from the twentieth century.
An artistic journey during a time of social and political change
From classical mythology and impressionist landscapes to abstraction and a strong shift in subject matter, the 1920s to 1969 saw change in not only the art world but also international history. A turbulent time of social, political and artistic transition, the period shows how artists transformed from traditional modes of representation to purely abstract and conceptual art. Ms Harpley said the Modern collection highlights the way these artists engaged with the landscape and depictions of the human figure. “These works still engage with the traditional subject matter such as still life painting, landscapes and portraits but these artists are now thinking of modes of representation and how they actually engage and represent their subject matter,” Ms Harpley said. “We see a shift from painting classic mythology or big moments in our historical past to just
painting everyday life and people who they encounter every day.” The Modern collection includes works by well-known Australian artists, as well as international artists such as Stanley Spencer – an English painter represented at AGWA by his best known series Christ in the Wilderness, completed between 1939 and 1954. Hanging in chronological order, the display also features a series of stripe paintings by Robert Jacks, and Aboriginal art painted on pieces of bark and canvas. “In Australian art history, the late 1950s and into the 60s saw the start of Aboriginal art practice being considered as an art form, rather than being an ethnographic or anthropological artefact,” Ms Harpley said. Examples of sculpture feature prominently within the display, including a fabulous reclining figure by British artist Henry Moore and a well-known European work, Black Beauty by Niki de Saint Phalle, which is a large sculpture of a woman wearing a brightly coloured dress, hanging onto her lovely green handbag.
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CONTEMPORARY
The here and now Exploring AGWA’s contemporary spaces
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There is a clear shift from modernism to the eclecticism of postmodernism once the 80s hit.
Visitors enjoying works in the AGWA Contemporary gallery. Artwork: Michele Theunissen I am because you are #3, 2016. State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased through the Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation: TomorrowFund, 2017.
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GWA’s Contemporary collection offers an impressive display of artworks spanning five decades of art movements. A wander inside the main Contemporary gallery reveals a collection of works from 1970 to the present day, loosely arranged in chronological and thematic groupings for viewers to enjoy. AGWA Contemporary gallery Curator Jenepher Duncan said the new display brought together a sampling of contemporary Australian art from the late 60s to the present, together with some international works from the same period. “We wanted to be refreshing and present a new face to the collection and we have all done that in our individual galleries.” The Contemporary collection takes viewers through some of the local and international influences and movements, according to Ms Duncan. “There is a clear shift from modernism to the eclecticism of postmodernism once the 80s commenced and issues around memory, identity, the body and the marginal began to emerge in art,” she said. “In the 1990s one important manifestation of contemporary art was what was termed ‘a return to the real’, with its emphasis on the materiality of actual bodies or objects. “By the 2000s, previous visual conventions and styles dispersed under many complex influences – formal, material, social and political.” The contemporary collection continues to the Screen Space, Rise Sound and AGWA Design galleries, which brings together an impressive collaboration of work stretching across diverse mediums. From February 17 to May 21, Screen Space will showcase Korean artist Kimsooja’s Sewing into Walking multimedia installation. “It’s a 1994-1998 work which
contains bundles of clothes, video screens and a projector,” Ms Duncan said. “The installation reflects the artist’s long-term interest in the use of fabric, with its traces of the human body and the political realms we live and struggle within.” In the middle of the year, the gallery will display Megan Cope’s Blaktism from June 2 until September 3. The work won the artist AGWA’s coveted Western Australian Indigenous Art Award in 2015 for its humorous and politically sharp take on what it means to be defined as an Indigenous Australian. As the year draws to a close, Screen Space will showcase AGWA’s holdings of Australian artist Sue Ford’s work in photography and moving image from September 15 until December 10. Meanwhile, the AGWA Design gallery is showcasing a collection of ceramics by Western Australian potters until June. Audiences will see works from renowned artists including Eileen Keys, Greg Crowe, Stewart Scambler, Bela Kotai and Francis Kotai with their work offering a unique take on landscape art. A visit to the Contemporary collection wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Rise Sound Gallery, which offers audiences an added sensory experience. The recently acquired work of artist Michelle Ussher will be on display from February, including three of the artist’s ceramic instruments and sound works that were a part of her latest exhibition in Melbourne called Medusa’s Room. Rise Sound Gallery Curator Dunja Rmandić said the exhibition created a contemporary version of what Medusa would have had in her room. “I’m very excited we will be presenting a work by an artist we haven’t acquired before,” she said.
Exploring identity, culture and the self WA Now exhibitions in 2018
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he Art Gallery of WA is committed to collecting and showcasing the work of some of Western Australia’s best artists, designers and craftspeople. Not only do they make some of the best art in the country, and are always striving to connect with the international art community, but their visions transform how we experience the place we live. AGWA Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Carly Lane and Curator of Contemporary Design and International Art Robert Cook have put together three diverse exhibitions that showcase many different spectrums of works by talented WA artists.
Julie Dowling Babanyu (Friends for life)
From February 3 to August 13, AGWA is excited to showcase a collection of works from WA artist Julie Dowling. Completed between 1993 and 2005, the exhibition’s 39 works includes self-portraits and images of Dr Dowling’s grandmother who is a strong cultural influence in her life, as well as imagery of her family, the Badimaya people from Mid-West WA. Dr Dowling said her work began when the internet was introduced to the world, which meant she could use it to her advantage to record the deep-seated injustices within Indigenous communities. “The imagery is based on a process of decolonisation and follows stopping things like cultural language loss, which affects First Nation people,” she said. “We need to talk about the situations that we were raised in, and whether we acknowledge them now or not, we have to talk about them at some stage in order to be in a healthy mental space, and to stop racism – to make it less difficult for the next generation.” “I hope by viewing my work, audiences can understand a little
more about the history and the present day situation surrounding First Nation people and Indigenous communities.” Ms Lane said the WA Now display exhibitions are a good opportunity for visitors, some of whom are overseas visitors, to learn about the life experiences of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. “Julie created these paintings at a time when Aboriginal history and our experience in wider Australian society was less known,” she said. “Putting these stories out into the public domain gives us a more rounded view of the past and of the country we live in.”
Ionat Zurr and Oron Catts Biomess – hyper otherness
Presented from September 1 to December 1, Biomess – hyper otherness is a collaboration between artists and researchers Oron Catts and Ionat Zurr, the WA Museum and the Art Gallery of WA. Rather than an arrangement of individual art works, Biomess is an installation comprised of video art, living organisms and museum specimens, as well as weird life forms, created in laboratories, that could not exist without artificial support mechanism (such as cells that are a fusion of two or more different organisms). SymbioticA Co-founder and Director Oron Catts and SymbioticA Artist, Researcher and Academic Coordinator Ionat Zurr said the exhibition’s aim was to evoke a sense of “consumer desire” for strange living things that were mostly characterised as noncharismatic. “We want to raise awareness of our need to have better understandings of the complexity and messiness of life at the time when life becomes a raw material for human wants,” they said. “We will probe questions
about life and living things, both unintentional and constructed. We will be looking at life forms that seem to defy common ideas about self, gender, identity and individuality as well as liveness, artificiality and technology.” Dr Cook said the work was critical and exploratory in nature and had been exhibited around the world.
WA Craft and Design
WA Craft and Design is an ongoing project space which offers audiences a small selection of works by the state’s leading makers. The work of WA makers reflects their deep connection to this place, and responds to the particularities of the environment within WA. The skilful manipulation of raw material is a way in which craftspeople feel their way into
Julie Dowling Is it ok to be two things at once 1996
synthetic polymer paint, red ochre and blood on canvas 104 x 65 cm State Art Collection Art Gallery of Western Australia Purchased 1996 © Julie Dowling / licensed by Viscopy, 2018 intimate relationship with the world. The results are poetic, threedimensional objects that seem to both comment on the natural world and be of it.
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An Indigenous outlook
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he Art Gallery of Western Australia offers one of Australia’s finest holdings of Indigenous art with over 3000 works in the collection. Six Seasons is a space dedicated to the display of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art from across the country with plenty to admire, according to Six Seasons Curator Carly Lane. “The Six Seasons gallery presents a mix of subjects and different media such as photography, works on paper, painting, canvas and sculptural forms,” she said. Ms Lane said Aboriginal
artists offer a unique outlook on contemporary art and life, and this shows in their work. “Aboriginal artists make art with meaning; for example they make work about their love of country, their take on politics and their views on where we fit in society today,” she said. “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art is highly diverse, in content and style, and reflects thoughts, experiences and knowledge from across the country.” The gallery takes its name from the Noongar six seasons of SouthWest Western Australia, in honour of
Shane Pickett Six Seasons: A suite of Prints 2005-2006 (detail)
etching on archival paper six parts: 34 x 49 cm (image); 60 x 80 cm (paper) each State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia Purchased 2006
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the Whadjuk Noongar people who are the traditional custodians of the land on which the gallery stands. Six Seasons gallery is a part of a broader Indigenous art project, which also includes an initiative with Kimberley artists and art centres entitled Desert River Sea: Kimberley Art Then and Now. The project, developed by AGWA with support from Rio Tinto, has built an online resource about Kimberley art and culture. Within the project’s infancy in 2012, artists were consulted and then led the way on what the project should encompass. “After six years of gathering information about artists and artistic practice in the Kimberley, the Art Gallery of Western Australia will mark the end of the program with an exhibition, featuring works by various artists who we have had the pleasure to work with,” Ms Lane said. “There is a lot I am excited about for the Desert River Sea exhibition – artists are working collectively to share subjects that are important to them right now. “I’m very excited about the range of stories that Kimberley artists are intending to share with viewers, and that artists have already begun working together to create new works exclusively for the show.” The exhibition will be on display from 2019. “Desert River Sea is a unique
Angelina George Near Ruined City 2007
synthetic polymer paint on canvas 120.2 x 118.8 cm State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia Gift of Jacqui McPhee under the Commonwealth Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2012
Six Seasons is a space dedicated to the display of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks from across the country. research project that will become even more important as we move into the future,” Ms Lane said.
Refracted perspectives
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Millennial minds tick
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very year the people of Perth have the opportunity to gain a unique insight into the minds of Year 12 students through the Year 12 Perspectives exhibition. It showcases the work by some of the brightest and most talented graduating high school artists in WA and is open for viewing from March 17 until July 16. AGWA Associate Curator Dunja Rmandić has curated the exhibition for the past three years and said she was constantly fascinated to see what issues the students stressed in their work. Most of the students in this years exhibition were born in the year 2000, and Ms Rmandić was interested to see how growing up with social media influenced what young people valued. “We’ve been calling the younger generation self-involved and selfobsessed, and it’s interesting when looking at the older catalogues of the Year 12 Perspectives that there was a lot of focus on the self in the
Kimberley Lin Mind over matter 2017
oil on MDF two parts: 123 x 122 cm each Santa Maria College
past and now there is a lot more focus on things like global issues, families and the stress of Year 12,” she said. The media presented continue to be diverse and increasingly involve mixed media, digital films and animation as well as sculpture, painting and drawing, often of a high calibre. Local artist Nathan Beard was invited on board to judge the current exhibition and said the scale and scope of the work produced was “humbling”, while at the same time an encouragement to other aspiring artists. “To see work created by your peers is very inspiring and allows you to be more ambitious in your own work,” Mr Beard said. “You connect to the work a bit more on a personal level too because it doesn’t exist in this unachievable realm, which I think can be off putting when entering spaces like a gallery.” Visitors to the exhibition can vote for their favourite work in the Act Belong Commit People’s Choice Award.
elebrated as a transformative and captivating medium over centuries, glass is still well and truly alive as a dynamic art form in Australia. Now in its sixteenth year, the Tom Malone Prize is a highly respected and an eagerly anticipated event for contemporary Australian glass artists, with each year’s winning entry becoming a part of the State Art Collection. Initiated in 2003 by Elizabeth Malone, the prize continues for 2018 with the support of AGWA Foundation Benefactor Sheryl Grimwood. With a desire to support the arts, Ms Grimwood, who has always been captivated by threedimensional art, and glass in particular – said it was all a matter of “being in the right place at the right time” that she came on board as the new benefactor. “I recently stepped back from a demanding career, so I have the time to immerse myself in glass as an art form,” she said. “The fact that the criteria for the Tom Malone Prize meets my (at the time) undefined objectives, such as supporting Australian artists that work in glass and recognising contemporary art, made the decision to support the prize a perfect fit.” The Tom Malone Prize is the oldest glass art prize in Australia and has been crucial in building the nation’s largest contemporary glass art collection at AGWA. Ms Grimwood said there were many reasons she had fallen in love with glass as an art form, with one of them being the
opportunity the viewer has to examine the artwork from many angles. “I find it fascinating to be able to move around a work of art, viewing it from many angles, and with the interplay of light being unique to glass art and what we “see”; it gives the piece “life”; something not found with other materials.” In a similar way, last year’s prize winner Marc Leib said, as a creator of glass art, he enjoyed the way the glass moved and the patterns formed. Mr Leib won the 2017 prize for his creation of a murrine vessel. Murrine are coloured patterns or images made in a glass cane that are revealed when cut in cross-sections. “I made canes in the nontraditional way, instead of making them the way glass blowers do,” Mr Leib said. “I let gravity pull and shape the final vessel shape. I wanted to use this particular technique to show my love for the material.” The artwork now sits proudly as part of AGWA’s contemporary glass collection for others to also enjoy. Winner of the 2017 Tom Malone Prize Marc Leib Inner core 2016 kiln-formed glass, kiln-formed murrines, cold-worked and polished, 26.5 x 41.5 x 1.2 cm State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia Purchased through the Tom Malone Prize, Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation, 2017 © the artist Photographer: Kevin Gordon
Grace Hogan Four places, one face 2017
clay scratchboard four parts: 71 x 56 cm each Swan Christian College
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Coming up… Wesfarmers Arts Micro Galleries – Garden and Sky
Ongoing | Free As the Principal Partner of the Gallery and a major donor, Wesfarmers Arts assists AGWA in acquiring contemporary art for the State Art Collection and providing access to it. In May 2016, the Gallery opened two new display spaces, Garden Gallery and Sky Gallery. These Micro Galleries launched with works from the Wesfarmers Collection beginning with the idea of large works in small spaces.
Chinese Ceramics Revealed, 5th Century BC–1983: Highlights from the Yuen Collection 16 June–17 September | Free Drawing from a significant recently revealed private collection in Perth, this exhibition presents an overview of over 60 Chinese ceramic objects of superb artistic quality, ranging from the Warrior State period (5th century BCE) to the late 20th century, thus highlighting the path of its production, with its similarities and differences, for nearly 2500 years.
Spaced 3: north by southeast 4 August–17 December | Free Organised by the WA-based International Art Space, Spaced 3: north by southeast brings together 12 artists, six from Australia and six from the Nordic region. Each artist presents works made after immersive residencies in their opposing hemispheres and track, amongst other things, the ways that identity is composed in dynamic exchange with the forces of nature and economics.
Culture Juice: Bling and Beyond 14 October 2018–January 2019 | Free Building on the success of The Rise of Sneaker Culture and Heath Ledger: A Life in Pictures, AGWA presents the next exhibition in its Culture Juice program: Bling and Beyond! A wild and intriguing celebration of the art, design and craft of jewellery, AGWA is unlocking the vaults to showcase the best, the bizarre and the sophisticated jewels in its historical, contemporary and Indigenous collections. Moving from bold and captivating wearable art to quiet and subtle, almost private, personal interventions, the show will change how you think about what jewellery is and can be. Black Swan Prize for Portraiture 27 October – 26 November | Free Established in 2007 by ARTrinsic Inc, the Black Swan Prize for Portraiture is the thirdrichest prize in Australia after the Archibald and Moran competitions. This popular exhibition will be back at AGWA in 2018.
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LOVE ART? BECOME AN AGWA MEMBER TODAY. Immerse yourself in the world of art and enjoy a free ticket to the Corsini Collection as part of your membership. As an AGWA Member, you will be among the first to know about exhibitions, enjoy exclusive events and special offers. From just $25 for student concession to $75 for an annual adult membership – it’s a rewarding way to support your Gallery. Head to artgallery.wa.gov.au to find out more.
Strong community support brings exhibition to Perth
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Window on Italy – The Corsini Collection: Masterpieces from Florence would not be possible without the support of AGWA Foundation members – both longterm supporters, and those who have joined specifically to help bring this exhibition to Perth. In particular, the local Italian community has collectively played a significant role in offering Perth a glimpse of Italian culture and art via the Corsini Collection. “I would like to thank all Foundation members who have contributed to this important exhibition, and acknowledge the role played by sponsors and the Consulate of Italy, Perth,” AGWA Director Stefano Carboni said. Foundation members enjoy a special
relationship with AGWA, including previewing exhibitions before they open to the public; having access to artists and curators; and for those at the membership level of Fellow or above, touring internationally with the Director. In addition to exhibition support, the Art Gallery of WA Foundation is critical to the growth of the State Art Collection. More than 80% of all acquisitions in recent years can be attributed to generous donations to the AGWA Foundation, either through cash donations, bequests or donations of works of art. If you would like more information about the Foundation, please contact the Foundation office on 9492 6761 or foundation@artgallery.wa.gov.au
Thank you to AGWA’s partners
AGWA’s sponsors are critical to the success of the Gallery. They do not simply provide financial or in-kind support. They are partners and friends, tangibly demonstrating support and commitment to the Gallery and the wider cultural fabric of WA.
A Window on Italy – The Corsini Collection: Masterpieces from Florence Major Partners
Airline Partner
Media Partners
Supported by
Organised by
International Exhibitions Insurance Program
Exhibition Partners
Opening Nights Partner
AGWA Annual Sponsors Principal Partner
Year 12 Perspectives
Desert River Sea: Kimberley Art Then & Now
Indigenous Digitisation Partner
Art Gallery of WA
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WHAT’S ON AT AGWA | Feb – Jun 2018 | Bookings artgallery.wa.gov.au FEBRUARY – JUNE Portrait Palazzo Feb – Jun | Free Keep an eye out for the travelling Portrait Palazzo and have your picture taken in Renaissance Florence. Art Trail 10am-5pm, Wed – Mon, 24 Feb – 18 Jun Exhibition ticket required Find Arno, one of the many dogs that the Corsini family have owned to learn more about the artworks. Design your emblem 10am-5pm, Wed – Mon, 24 Feb – 18 Jun | Free Design your family emblem in AGWA’s Imagination Room. The Corsini Collection 1-2pm, Thu – Sun, 29 Feb – 17 Jun Tour free, exhibition admission fees apply Pre-book a guided tour as part of your exhibition experience for a revealing insight into the collection.
FEBRUARY WA Now: Julie Dowling – Babanyu (Friends for life) 3 Feb – 13 Aug | Free Screen Space: Kimsooja Sewing into walking 10 Feb – 21 May | Free Perth Festival Visual Arts Adventure Kimsooja Sewing into walking 5-5.30pm, Sat 17 Feb AGWA Curator Robert Cook and PICA Curator Eugenio Viola discuss Kimsooja’s work. Meet Me in the Members Lounge – WA Now: Julie Dowling and WA Unlimited 11am-12pm, Sun 18 Feb | Free | Members only AGWA Members meet for a complimentary tea or coffee and an overview on the work of First Nation artist Julie Dowling before joining a guided tour of WA Now: Julie Dowling and WA Unlimited. Sneak Peek: A Window on Italy 10am-12pm, Fri 23 Feb | Members only Meet AGWA Curator Melissa Harpley for a curatorial introduction and private exhibition viewing before it opens to the public. A Window on Italy – The Corsini Collection: Masterpieces from Florence 10am-5pm, Wed – Mon, 24 Feb – 18 Jun | Ticketed ARTBubs: AGWA Contemporary 10.30am-12pm, Wed 28 Feb $15 (ticket includes tour and morning tea) Parents with bubs get together for a mid-week art outing. Tour the Gallery with one of AGWA’s Guru Guides, followed by coffee, cake and conversation.
MARCH
Year 12 Perspectives 2017 Sat 17 Mar – Mon 16 Jul | Free A Window on Italy Long Table Sat 17 Mar | Ticketed Join AGWA during Eat, Drink, Perth for an exclusive degustation dining experience. Singing at the Gallery WA Opera Community Choir 5.30-7pm, Sun 18 Mar, 15 Apr, 20 May, 17 Jun $100 | $85 Members | Suitable for 18+ Whether you’re a seasoned chorister or an absolute beginner, this is your chance to experience singing as part of an opera chorus. ARTBubs: A Window on Italy – The Corsini Collection 10.30am-12pm, Wed 21 Mar | $25 (ticket includes exhibition entry, tour and morning tea) A Window on Italy Auslan Tour 11am-12pm, Sat 24 Mar (tour free, exhibition admission fees apply) For visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing, join this guided tour with an AGWA Guide and Auslan interpreter.
Portrait Palazzo 10am-5pm, Thu 19 – Sun 22 Apr | Free Travel back in time and have your picture taken in Renaissance Florence.
MAY A Morning with the Masterpieces Australian Heritage Festival 10.15am-2.30pm, Wed 2 May $22 | $18 Members (includes exhibition ticket, tour, coffee and morning tea) Take a guided exhibition tour on the history of Italian art, followed by morning tea at FRANK. Marc Leib Studio Visit 10.30am-12pm, Sat 5 May | Ticketed A behind-the-scenes look at the workshop of Perth-based glass artist and winner of the Tom Malone Prize. Celebrating Mother’s Day 1-2pm, Thu 10 to Sun 13 May $25 | $22 Members (includes exhibition ticket, tour, and a gift from the AGWA shop) Spoil mum with an exhibition ticket, tour and small Corsini gift from the Gallery Shop.
APRIL
Sunday Series: Beauty and Fashion through the ages 2-3pm, Sun 13 May (tour free, exhibition admission fees apply)
Sunday Series: Art & Faith 2-3pm, Sun 8 Apr (tour free, exhibition admission fees apply)
ARTBubs: AGWA Modern 10.30am-12pm, Wed, 16 May | $15 (ticket includes tour and morning tea)
ARTBubs: 3D Works – See Things Differently 10.30am-12pm, Wed 11 Apr | $15 (ticket includes tour and morning tea)
Lecture Series Wed 16 May | Free | In partnership with UWA Arvi Wattel presents the last of three lectures.
Behind the Scenes of the Corsini Collection 6-7.30pm, Thu 12 Apr | Ticketed AGWA Curator Melissa Harpley and exhibition staff share insights on the journey of bringing the exhibition to AGWA.
Singing at the Gallery WA Opera Community Choir 5.30-7pm, Sun 18 Mar, 15 Apr, 20 May, 17 Jun $100 | $85 Members | Suitable for 18+
Tom Malone Prize 31 Mar – 28 May | Free
ART BALL 26 May | $250+bf | artball.com.au Walk the red carpet into a world of mystery, mythology and decadence at AGWA’s annual flagship gala, ART BALL.
Propel Youth Arts x AGWA: Illuminate 10am-5pm, Sat 14 Apr – Mon 18 Jun | Free Presented in partnership with Propel Youth Arts as part of the KickstART Festival See how six emerging artists and one young curator craft a contemporary response to art that spans centuries.
Screen Space: Megan Cope Blaktism 2 Jun – 2 Sep | Free
Singing at the Gallery WA Opera Community Choir 5.30-7pm, Sun 18 Mar, 15 Apr, 20 May, 17 Jun $100 | $85 Members | Suitable for 18+
Dan McCabe Studio Visit Early June | Ticketed A special look at the Fremantle-based studio and gallery space Polizia with Perth-based artist Dan McCabe.
Storytelling Adventures 11am-12pm & 1-2pm, Sun 15, Mon 16, Thu 19 Apr | Free Join Glenn Swift, Storyteller Extraordinaire as he entertains with stories of life in Renaissance Italy.
Sunday Series: The Italian Palette 2-3pm, Sun 10 Jun (tour free, exhibition admission fees apply)
Sunday Series: History of Italian Art 2-3pm, Sun 11 Mar (tour free, exhibition admission fees apply) One of four Sunday tours covering the religion, beauty, colour, and history of the Corsini Collection.
Year 12 Perspective Study Day Wed 18 Apr | Ticketed | Suitable for students in year 8 to 10 This tailored event is designed to provide secondary students with information and inspiration for developing their art in preparation for Years 11 & 12.
Lecture Series Wed 14 Mar | Free | In partnership with UWA Dr Susanne Meurer presents the first of three lectures.
Lecture Series Wed 18 Apr | Free | In partnership with UWA Dr Elizabeth Reid presents the second of three lectures.
JUNE
Chinese Ceramics Revealed, 5th Century BC – 1983: Highlights from the Yuen Collection
16 Jun – 17 Sep | Free Singing at the Gallery WA Opera Community Choir
5.30-7pm, Sun 18 Mar, 15 Apr, 20 May, 17 Jun $100 | $85 Members | Suitable for 18+ ARTBubs: WA Unlimited
10.30am-12pm, Wed 20 Jun | $15 (ticket includes tour and morning tea)
PLAN YOUR VISIT
@ArtGalleryWA
The Art Gallery of WA is situated in the vibrant Perth Cultural Centre, bordered by Roe Street, Beaufort Street and William Street. 10am-5pm, Wednesday – Monday. Closed Tuesdays, Good Friday, Anzac Day and Christmas Day. The Gallery is free to visit. Voluntary donations can be made upon entry. Special exhibitions may require you to purchase a ticket. Information correct at time of printing, subject to change.
#ArtGalleryWA artgallery.wa.gov.au