The Queensland Art Gallery is planning a major series of contemporary Australian exhibitions at the Gallery of Modern Art. The first, Contemporary Australia: Optimism, explores the “rich, broad and complex territory of the possible in Australian life and culture”. It will run from 15 November 2008 until 22 February 2009.

Artists Jamin, Scott Redford, Regan Tamanui, James Dodd and Texta Queen are among those selected for the exhibition.

Three works from Jamin’s current exhibition at Criterion have been chosen (including the following image) and Regan will be completing a major installation of work over two weeks leading up to the opening.

For more details, click here.

Jamin
Change #1 (Obama-Machiavelli) 2008
Spray enamel on coated steel

The work United We Fall was commissioned for the Christchurch Art Gallery and was the first ‘glass house’ project curated by Justin Paton. It will be in place for one year.

The work is on the raise of all the stairs and along the glass balustrade on the first floor.

This work developed during the year Sara spent in the United States undertaking two residencies.

Sara says: “I have recently returned to New Zealand after spending a year in America where I was influenced by the current US political climate and the issues surrounding the hotly contested Democratic Primary Elections and the pending economic crisis. Responding to the ways colour and power are intertwined; this work makes use of statistical data that relates to the colours of world flags. I want to turn the lobby of the Art Gallery into a cascade of marching, pulsating, saturated colour that questions both the local and global space it occupies”.

More of Sara’s work can be seen on her website.

Sara Hughes
United We Fall
Signwriting vinyl on wall surfaces
Installation View