The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) launched its 2022 program today with a line-up of exhibitions including a summer blockbuster on air and its centrality to life, an exhibition highlighting recent developments in Queensland contemporary art and a solo exhibition of work by Japanese-born, Berlin-based artist Chiharu Shiota.

QAGOMA Director Chris Saines said the Gallery’s blockbuster summer exhibition ‘Air’, opening from 26 November 2022 until 23 April 2023, would showcase immersive and large-scale works by leading international and Australian artists exploring the cultural, ecological and political dimensions of air.

‘Presented across the entire ground floor of GOMA, ‘Air’ will feature QAGOMA Collection favourites In bed 2005 by Ron Mueck (England) and Crossing 2016, a solid-light installation by Anthony McCall (United Kingdom), along with major works by Dora Budor (Croatia), Jonathan Jones (Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi, Australia) and Dr Uncle Stan Grant Sr AM (Wiradjuri, Australia), and Carlos Amorales (Mexico), plus a significant new commission by Tomás Saraceno (Argentina),' Mr Saines said.

‘The exhibition will be a journey through this invisible, ethereal and vital element, reflecting on awareness of our shared atmosphere as lifegiving, potentially dangerous and rapidly warming.

‘As we enter the final months of the Gallery’s flagship exhibition ‘The 10th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ (APT10), showing until 25 April 2022, we look forward to being the exclusive Australian venue for ‘Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles’, a major exhibition organised and toured by Japan’s Mori Art Museum.

‘From 18 June until 3 October 2022 at GOMA, ‘The Soul Trembles’ highlights twenty-five years of Chiharu Shiota’s practice across large-scale installation, sculpture, video performance, photography and drawing.

‘Shiota is renowned internationally for her transformative installations constructed from millions of fine threads and works that express the intangible: memories, anxiety, dreams and silence. This exhibition at GOMA is the largest solo exhibition of the artist’s work to date and it will be a major drawcard for local and visiting audiences,’ Mr Saines said.

From 13 August 2022 until 22 January 2023 at QAG, ‘Embodied Knowledge: Queensland Contemporary Art’ will feature new commissions and recent work by artists including Robert Andrew, Burchill/McCamley, Megan Cope, Archie Moore, Ethel Murray, Ryan Presley, Obery Sambo, Vanghoua Anthony Vue, Rosie Ware, Jenny Watson, Warraba Weatherall and Justene Williams.

Highlights of ‘Embodied Knowledge’ will include Private Views and Rear Visions 2020-22, a vast installation of new paintings by Jenny Watson; The Reservoir Of Cruel Miracles 2022, a towering work by Erika Scott comprising fish-tanks and found objects; a series of textural, shaggy rainforest shields by Girramay artist Ethel Murray; and a major new commission by Archie Moore on the QAG Watermall directly highlighting Indigenous deaths in custody.

Mr Saines said the Gallery was equally excited to be presenting the first major museum survey of work by leading Australian painter, Queensland-born Joe Furlonger at QAG from 27 August 2022 to 29 January 2023.

‘Joe Furlonger is well known for his expressive, painterly figurative images and vast landscapes. This exhibition will trace the Queensland artist’s career through an expansive presentation of more than 80 works across a range of media from painting to ceramics, sculpture and drawing,’ Mr Saines said.

‘Transitions’, an exhibition of significant historical Aboriginal bark paintings and innovative contemporary Indigenous works from the Collection, will show at GOMA from 20 August 2022 until 10 April 2023.

From 3 September 2022 until 18 June 2023, an exhibition celebrating the vision and generosity of Queensland art collector and philanthropist James C. Sourris AM will be presented at GOMA. This second QAGOMA exhibition dedicated to Mr Sourris’s giving will focus on key acquisitions of the past decade with major works by contemporary Australian artists including Vernon Ah Kee, Richard Bell, Gordon Bennett, Vivienne Binns, Jon Cattapan, Peter Cripps, Bonita Ely, d harding, Robert Hunter, Peter Kennedy, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Ross Manning, Rosslynd Piggott and Judy Watson.

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said QAGOMA’s exhibition program would take visitors on a journey through the work of important Australian and international contemporary artists.

'With Queensland’s borders now open to national and international visitors, QAGOMA will be a major drawcard this year for cultural tourists and follows on from ground-breaking exhibitions presented by the Gallery in recent years,' Minister Enoch said.

'The Queensland Government has committed $26.8 million in blockbuster funding since 2016 for QAGOMA to present exclusive exhibitions like 'The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire' and 'European Masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York'.

'It’s great to see Queensland reap the ongoing benefits of presenting exclusive events, showcasing important local and First Nations stories, and connecting Queenslanders with rich arts and cultural experiences through the touring of exhibitions to communities across the state.

'QAGOMA’s exhibitions in 2022 are set to play a key role in building Queensland’s cultural tourism, boosting the economy and fuelling the state’s recovery.'

This year QAGOMA will continue touring ‘Asia Pacific Contemporary: Three Decades of APT’ and ‘Asia Pacific Video’ to venues throughout the state including in Toowoomba, Mackay, Texas, Chinchilla and beyond. For more info visit www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/touring

'Air' is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar, and Major Partners Shayher Group and Urban Art Projects. ‘Embodied Knowledge: Queensland Contemporary Art’ is supported by Major Partner, Gadens.

QAGOMA's 2022 program includes:

‘The 10th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ (APT10) (QAG and GOMA, until 25 April 2022)

‘Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles’ (GOMA, 18 June – 3 October 2022) Tickets on sale now

‘Embodied Knowledge: Queensland Contemporary Art’ (QAG, 13 August 2022 – 22 January 2023)

‘Transitions’ (GOMA, 20 August 2022 – 10 April 2023)

‘Joe Furlonger: Horizons’ (QAG, 27 August 2022 – 29 January 2023)

‘Courage and Beauty: The James C. Sourris AM Collection’ (GOMA, 3 September 2022 – 18 June 2023)

‘Still Life Now’ (GOMA, 1 October 2022 – 12 March 2023)

‘Air’ (GOMA, 26 November 2022 – 23 April 2023) Tickets on sale late 2022

‘Asia Pacific Contemporary: Three Decades of APT’ and ‘Asia Pacific Video’ (touring regional Queensland until 2024)