Exhibition In Focus

Tim Maguire: The Douglas Kagi Gift

Perc Tucker Regional Gallery

28 February – 27 April 2014 opposite top:

The exhibition Tim Maguire: The Douglas Kagi Gift provided an opportunity for the Townsville community to view a major gift of 24 digital prints by acclaimed London-based artist Tim Maguire, acquired in June 2012.

This extraordinary gift to the City of Townsville Art Collection was made by Dr Douglas Kagi, a Melbourne-based scientist and prolific collector of international prints since the 1970s, following discussions with then Gallery Services Curator Sue Smith. In bestowing these works, Dr Kagi not only provided the community with access to a major artist, but also re-focused its attention on the impressive quality within and significance of the City of Townsville Art Collection, a treasured cultural asset of the region.

The exhibition was also timed to feature as part of the Queensland Festival of Photography. With the works on display being digital prints derived from source photographs and utilising Maguire’s unique ‘digital painting’ technique, the exhibition encouraged discussion about the blurring of boundaries between traditionally segmented mediums such as painting, printmaking and photography within the contemporary art scene.

Featuring the exhibition as part of the Queensland Festival of Photography also ensured a heightened national audience. In its fifth year, the Festival was held throughout April and promoted exhibitions celebrating any form of photo-media at venues across the state. Exhibitions, including Tim Maguire: The Douglas Kagi Gifti, were featured in a catalogue which was distributed Australia-wide.

The local and visiting public were appreciative of the exhibition, with 7,803 guests registered during its duration.

Particularly popular was the exhibition’s launch event, which featured an In-Conversation session between the donor, Dr Douglas Kagi, and Gallery Services Curator Eric Nash, and attracted in excess of 70 guests.

This session enabled an opportunity for Dr Kagi to provide a rare insight into the world of art collecting, and share his amusing and astute experiences and observations.

Tim MAGUIRE

United Kingdom b. 1958

Love of the Plants II [detail] 2007

Digital pigment print on paper

72.3 x 91.6 cm (sheet); 60 x 80 cm (image) ed. 17/35

Acc. 2012.041

Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Tech-Dry Building Protection Systems Pty Ltd as trustee for the Dr Douglas A Kagi Scientific Research Trust

City of Townsville Art Collection

Photograph: Holly Grech-Fitzgerald

© Tim Maguire opposite bottom:

Tim MAGUIRE

United Kingdom b. 1958

Love of the Plants VI [detail] 2007

Digital pigment print on paper

70 x 90 cm (sheet); 60 x 80 cm (image) ed. 17/35

Acc. 2012.045

Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Tech-Dry Building Protection Systems Pty Ltd as trustee for the Dr Douglas A Kagi Scientific Research Trust

City of Townsville Art Collection

Photograph: Holly Grech-Fitzgerald

© Tim Maguire