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T H E C O L L E C T I O N
2 0 1 3 R E V I E W
CONT EMPORARY I NT ERNAT I ONAL ART
Yael Bartana uses photography and video to explore
Jewish identity. This work is part of ‘The Missing
Negatives of the Sonnenfeld Collection’ series
that references the archives of Jewish–German
photographers Leni and Herbert Sonnenfeld.
For this body of work, Bartana used both Israeli and
Palestinian models to reimagine images from the
archive. The models pose with richly metaphorical
fruits — pomegranates, oranges, and grapes — or hold
tools, seemingly poised for action in a bare landscape.
The Gallery recently acquired numbers 2, 12 and 17
from the series.
Often in Mika Rottenberg’s video works, female
characters with striking physical presences
undertake a mundane, productive task that results
in an unexpected output.
Mary’s cherries
takes
common, overlooked elements of contemporary
production and turns them into a bizarre
narrative presented in a fantastical environment.
However, as Rottenberg points out, she is not
seeking to create something bizarre; she is
simply pointing out how bizarre reality is.
Yael Bartana
|
2.TheMissingNegatives
of theSonnenfeldCollection
2008 |
Black and white photograph, ed. 1/5 +
2 AP | 48.3 x 32.3cm | Purchased 2013.
Queensland Art Gallery Foundation
Mika Rottenberg
|
Mary’scherries
(still) 2004 | Single-channel video
installation: 5:50 minutes, colour,
sound, 4:3, 28” CRT monitor and mount,
media player, speakers, wood, carpet,
stucco, fluorescent light, fan and
concrete blocks | Purchased 2013.
Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of
Modern Art Foundation
