INTRODUCTION

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to a very special preview of Deakin University’s Art Collection. The Collection has been in existence since the University’s inception and represents works of excellence and significance in a wide range of mediums, principally by Australian contemporary artists. Maintaining and growing this Collection demonstrates the University’s interest in the study, patronage and advancement of the visual arts in Australia. In recent years we have been able to particularly focus on increasing our representation of Indigenous works for display. The result was some wonderful acquisitions by significant Indigenous artists which we felt very privileged to acquire.

In the ten years I have been at Deakin I have worked with dedicated professional staff who have helped shape the Collection into the cultural treasure it is today. Curators past and present have included Victor Griss, Emma Busowsky Cox and James Lynch; Art Collection Officers have included Claire Muir and Roxanna Richens. It has been a pleasure and privilege to work with such a wonderful group of people.

Other staff who have supported the Collection development have included Professor Brenda Cherednichenko, Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts and Education; Liz Cameron, Director, Institute of Koorie Education; Ron Fairchild, Chief Advancement Officer; Kean Selway, Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Murphy, Executive Officer; Facilities Services Division and Michael Mangos, Director Stakeholder Partnerships and Community Relations. I thank them, and our Advancement colleagues, for their assistance and support of this publication.

wish to also acknowledge Professor Jane den Hollander AO, Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University. Her exemplary leadership and depth of insight and knowledge is inspirational across the University community. The growth of the Collection owes a great deal to her leadership and foresight.

Contained within this publication are texts giving voice to some of the many people from across the University community and beyond who have contributed to the development of the Art Collection, or who have connected with it in a meaningful way. I invite you to join us on a journey through the art on display around campus and a preview of some of the other works contained within the University’s Art Collection.

The Collection continues to grow and change through both the generous support of our donors and by acquisition. The vast majority of the Collection is on public display throughout Deakin’s four physical campuses at Geelong Waurn Ponds, Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool and Melbourne Burwood; the Werribee Learning Centre and Corporate Centres including Deakin Downtown and Waurn Ponds Estate. I encourage you to take the opportunity to to visit and view the variety and ever changing treasures in the Deakin University Art Collection.

Leanne Willis Manager, Art Collection and Galleries Deakin University

Konstantin Dimopoulos Red Field 2014

Guy Boyd

Leda and the Swan 1988

Gift of the artist, 1988

Casting

Peter Blizzard

Female Fertility Totem 2007

Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Jim Cousins AO and Libby Cousins, 2015

Opposite: Warrnambool Campus

Chris Booth Tuuram Cairn 1996

Bowathay (Mungandjiwuy) Munyarryan

Freshwater Lobsters 1986

Mutitjpuy (Djamika) Munungurr

Djangkawu Sisters 1985

Yananymul (Thelma) Munungurr

Crocodile and Sacred Fire Dreaming 1985

Mutitjpuy (Djamika) Munungurr

Fire Dreaming 1985

Gift of the Yirrkala People of North East

Arnhem Land, 1985