The major public sculpture The World Turns by international artist Michael Parekowhai was today installed on the banks of the Brisbane River outside the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA).
Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) Acting Director Suhanya Raffel said the sculpture, which was approximately 5.5 tonnes and almost 5 metres tall, was commissioned last year to mark the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Gallery of Modern Art and the 20th anniversary of the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art.
'I'm confident this sculpture will become an iconic work in the Gallery's Collection and a destination art work for Queensland,' Ms Raffel said.
The sculpture was delivered to the site on the banks of the Brisbane River by barge early this morning.
The World Turns consists of three interrelated life-sized elements cast in bronze: a massive bookend in the form of an elephant tipped on its head; a kuril, the local native water rat; and a chair, which invites the viewer to sit and contemplate the work.
'Parekowhai's work is renowned for its wry sense of humour and deft combination of popular culture, art, literature and history. The World Turns makes poetic connections between the river, GOMA and the adjacent State Library of Queensland; and celebrates cultures coming together,' Ms Raffel said.
'It's a perfect symbol for the 20th anniversary of the APT.'
Michael Parekowhai represented New Zealand at the 2011 Venice Biennale. His work has also been featured in the Sydney Biennale, the Gwangju Biennale and the São Paulo Biennial, and is held in the collections of leading museums including the Queensland Art Gallery.
Parekowhai showed in 'The 5th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art', which marked the opening of GOMA in 2006.
The project is funded by the Queensland Government through art+place Queensland Public Art Fund, and the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation.
'The 7th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art' (APT7) opens at the Gallery of Modern Art and Queensland Art Gallery on December 8. |
