Pacific Art
1 kWOmA ARTS
The carvings and paintings by Kwoma Arts
respond directly to the
koromb
(spirit houses)
found in the Upper Sepik villages of Tongwinjamb
and Mino in central Papua New Guinea. Each
Kwoma village has at least one such
koromb
,
a place for community gatherings and for
ceremonial displays and ritual performances.
The architectural structure of the
koromb
created for APT7 has been translated by the
artists into an installation using new materials.
The optical effects of the designs are believed to
communicate the energy of the spirits within.
These spirits are more fully explored in the
koromb
’s sculptural supports, which in this
installation consist of six
kwat
(posts) carved with
figurative designs relating to important narratives
of the Kwoma
sikiyawas
(spirits).
kwoma Arts
| Collaborative group | Est. 2012 | Kwoma people,
Tongwinjamb | Team leader | Anton Waiawas | Tongwinjamb b.1952 |
Collaborating artists | Kevin Apsepa | Ambunti b.1971 | Simon Goiyap |
Mino b.1973 | Jamie Jimok | Tongwinjamb b.1982 | Nelson Makamoi |
Tongwinjamb b.1982 | Rex Maukos | Tongwinjamb b.1964 | Terry
Pakiey | Tongwinjamb b.1974 |
Koromb
(
Spirit house
) (detail) 2012 |
Synthetic polymer paint, plywood, blackbutt, steel | Installed
dimensions variable | Commissioned for APT7 and the Queensland Art
Gallery Collection | Purchased 2012. Queensland Art Gallery
2 mIChAEl PAREkOWhAI
In
The World Turns
2011–12, Michael Parekowhai
casts a small native water rat, the kuril, in the
role of hero. Along with the traditional Aboriginal
custodians, the kuril is one of the caretakers of
the land on which the Gallery and this sculpture
stand. Here, the kuril is planted firmly on the
ground, going about its business, even though it
has shifted the world — represented by a large,
upturned elephant — from its axis. The adjacent
chair is an invitation to sit and contemplate this
remarkable feat.
michael Parekowhai
| New Zealand b.1968 |
The World Turns
2011–12 |
Bronze | 488 x 456 x 293cm (approx.) | Commissioned 2011 to mark
the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Gallery of Modern Art in
2006 and 20 years of the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art.
This project has received financial assistance from the Queensland
Government through art+place Queensland Public Art Fund and from
the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation
Indigenous
Australian Art
3 AmATA COmmUNITy
Through the generosity of benefactors Cathryn
Mittelheuser,
AM
, and Margaret Mittelheuser,
AM
,
the Gallery acquired seven spectacular works
by women artists from South Australia’s Amata
community, located in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara
Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands in north-western
South Australia. Tjala Arts is a leader in the
vibrant Western Desert painting movement,
which is currently reinvigorating contemporary
Australian art.
The artists span three generations. At 91,
Tjampawa Katie Kawiny is the most senior; she
is also a traditional owner of Tjurma country.
For
Seven sisters
, Kawiny and her daughters
painted an important creation story about the
constellations of Pleiades (the sisters) and Orion
(Nyiru, an evil man who wants to marry the
eldest sister).
Tjampawa katie kawiny
| Australia c.1921 | Mona Mitakikil Shepherd |
Australia b.1954 | Tjimpayie Prestley | Australia b.1967 |
Seven sisters
2011 | Synthetic polymer paint on linen | 196 x 196.5cm | Purchased
2012 with funds from Margaret Mittelheuser,
AM
, and Cathryn
Mittelheuser,
AM
, through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation
4 VERNON Ah kEE
Vernon Ah Kee is a Brisbane-based Aboriginal
contemporary artist who has risen to the
forefront of conceptual art practice. Three large-
scale drawings on canvas by Ah Kee, depicting
important women from Ah Kee’s family — his
maternal great-grandmother Annie Ah Sam,
paternal great-grandmother Bella Ami and his
daughter, Annie Ah Kee — recently entered the
Gallery’s Collection.
These complement a large triptych already held in
the Collection, also gifted by James C Sourris,
AM
,
of important male family members, namely his
grandfather and his son. By representing cross-
generational portraiture, Ah Kee reinstates his
family members into the historical record and
into contemporary Australian culture.
Vernon Ah kee
| Australia b.1967 |
Annie Ah Sam
2008 | Charcoal,
crayon and synthetic polymer paint on canvas | 180 x 240cm | The
James C Sourris,
AM
, Collection. Gift of James C Sourris,
AM
, through
the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation 2012. Donated through the
Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program
66
// REVEAl
/ REVIEW 2012
THECOLLECTION
REVEAL
