Queensland Art Gallery Annual Report 1997-98

Fifty of the fifty-eight collections sourced were private and some of these were international, in line with the intention to bring into public view exceptional works which had not previously been available to the Australian public. Some ninety– one works (consisting of 194 pieces) installed throughout five galleries provided a spectacular view of a intensely prolific painting career which lasted only one decade. In line with Indigenous practice, processes of consultation, collaboration and shared ownership were an integral part of this exhibition. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the establishment of the very popular Utopia Room, an interpretive space which provided a significant cultural context. Extensive negotiations with elders of the artist's community preceded their visit to Brisbane. The Gallery was blessed and the paintings 'sung in' - an important protocol of endorsement. Another distinctive cultural feature of this exhibition was the involvement of various sections of the local Murri community who acted as cultural custodians of the show on Jagera/Turrubul 'country' in addition to the involvement of the Gallery's community consultative committee. The exhibition was officially opened by Senator the Hon. John Herron, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, on 20 February 1998. Other guests in the official party included Jagera elder Mr Neville Bonner AO, and Ms Jackie Huggins, Member of Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. Elders from the artist's Utopia community were also in attendance. The exhibition attracted enormous attention with 50 000 visitors during its eight-week duration, and received enthusiastic articles and reviews from major Australian print media and art publications. Statements such as a 'landmark retrospective a fitting tribute to a unique figure in Australian art' (Phil Brown, Brisbane News) and 'to see [the exhibition] is to experience its drama and innovation within this completely different tradition . and a credit to Kngwarreye's peculiar genius' (Louise Martin-Chew, The Australian) summed up the critical acclaim the exhibition has received. In art academic circles the Gallery has been hailed for advancing a new museological model. The project was supported by an Australia Council grant through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board, Qantas Airways, the Olympic Arts Festivals, DAS Distribution and The Australian. Francesco Conz and the lntermedia Avant-Garde Another extremely important Gallery-initiated exhibition attracting national and international attention was 'Francesco Conz and the lntermedia Avant-Garde', sponsored by Screen Offset Printing and Singapore Airlines. The exhibition, curated by Queensland Art Gallery's Curator Anne Kirker and international artist and academic Nicholas Zurbrugg, was on display at the Queensland Art Gallery from 20 December 1997 to 1 March 1998. 'Francesco Conz and the lntermedia Avant-Garde' was the first display of over 120 works by forty-five international artists, and celebrated the generous donation of these works to the Gallery by Italian collector and publisher, Francesco Conz. Mr Conz travelled to Brisbane to open the exhibition along with international artists Alison Knowles, Eric Andersen and Ben Patterson. The exhibition included large banners, colourful display cabinets, interactive displays, and video viewing areas. During the exhibition's ten week display it attracted 47 713 visitors. A special international forum was held on 20 December. Visiting exhibitions 'The Golden Age of Dutch Art: Seventeenth Century Paintings from the Rijksmuseum and Australian Collections' was an Art Gallery of Western Australia travelling exhibition organised in association with the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. The exhibition commemorated the 300th anniversary of the voyage of Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh, and included works by Rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Hals, Jan Steen and Jan van Goyen. The exhibition was made possible by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands, and the State Government of Western Australia. The official opening on 27 March, performed by Dr Brian Kennedy of the National Gallery of Australia, included as special guests the Hon. Denver Beanland, Attorney General and Minister for Justice representing the Hon. Joan Sheldon, Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for the Arts; the Ambassador for The Netherlands, His Excellency Mr Roelof Reinhold Smit; and Dr Wouter Kloek, Head, Department of Paintings, Rijksmuseum. Over 25 000 visitors viewed the exhibition, including 2 569 in booked groups. The educational component of the exhibition was well utilised by fifty-eight school groups from the Brisbane central and country areas. The exhibition received wide coverage in the media. 'Marks and Moments: Paintings by Gordon Shepherdson' (7 June - 17 August 1997) was a Queensland Art Gallery– initiated tribute to this noted Queensland artist, curated by David Burnett of the QAG staff. 'William Dobell 1899-1970 The Painter's Progress' (25 October - 7 December 1997) was organised by the Art Gallery of New South Wales and sponsored nationally by the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, Rothschild Australia, and ABN AMRO Australia Hoare Gavett. It was sponsored in Queensland by Santos Ltd which allowed the exhibition to be presented free of entry charges. The exhibition attracted an attendance of 36 382. The retrospective exhibition 'Russell Drysdale 1912-1981' (18 May - 28 June 1998), curated by the National Gallery of Victoria, featured more than seventy of the artist's works. Supported by Optus and Network Ten, it was very successful, with 23 214 people viewing the exhibition. Marking the occasion of the British Council's fiftieth anniversary in Australia, the exhibition 'Gainsborough to Gilbert & George 14 Top Offo di '.,urst:, at thP r ppn ng of the ,"!xti bit ori -nrcesco orz md thf' nt,...rmer'1 'Iva, t C.Jr Je· were· (froir eft artists Ben Patter~en and ric Ander~er· Vlr Ian C 31 11 an, QC, Callery (hc:.trmar "lf Tr J5tePc.; Mr t- 3ncesto C.or z· Ai1sor Knc wlP• a1t1it, ·Jalle1y Direttcr Mr Joug f :JII; aod C,allery Tru~tee C t_t-, r na Harrp~ > Bet m le Mr Tony C uoe wrth Daber 's pai ,ting ~ his mC"ther, at ~r,e off1uc. 01'enr ,q of Wil iar ')orell 1899· Y/0: · he v.rr :e•'s PrC1gr ·ss B0t•01r rrght Mr Rrchard Aue n, AO. OBt, forrrer Cia1lery C ·c:1rmar >f ustees, <-m Ar Ja Austi, :it the pen ns ,t Wi liam llc ber i899- ,9·,o: he 'arr tc: s Pro('lr=us'