31 AUGUST 2016

SUGAR SPIN FOR GALLERY OF MODERN ART’S TENTH BIRTHDAY

‘Sugar Spin: you, me, art and everything’ is the major, free exhibition headlining the tenth anniversary celebrations for Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) this year.

From 3 December until 17 April 2017 audiences visiting ‘Sugar Spin’ will experience major new commissions such as Nervescape 2016, a large-scale, multi-coloured landscape of synthetic hair by Icelandic-born, New York-based artist Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir, her first work in Australia and largest in the world to date.

Nervescape will appear alongside a rich display of more than 250 artworks from the Gallery’s Collection.

Highlights include Carsten Höller’s much‑loved Left/Right Slide 2010 that will spiral visitors from the top to the bottom of GOMA, Ron Mueck’s oversized woman In bed 2005, Olafur Eliasson’s interactive installation of thousands of white Lego pieces The cubic structural evolution project 2004, Kohei Nawa’s bubble encrusted Pix-cell Double Deer#4 2010, and Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s musical installation of live finches, from here to ear (v.13) 2010.

Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) Director Chris Saines CNZM said the 10-year milestone was a time to reflect on GOMA’s impact locally and nationally, and to look toward its future.

‘GOMA has been a force for cultural change, stimulating our appetite for contemporary art and ideas. We can take pride in a decade of world class exhibitions and programs and celebrate wonderful additions to the state art Collection,’ Mr Saines said.

‘It’s only fitting that in marking this milestone we offer visitors of all ages a multi-faceted, sensory and participatory art experience.

‘On 3 December we will unveil a series of birthday gifts to the Collection, among them the electrifying Heard by American sculptor and performance artist Nick Cave. This group of brightly coloured sculptural horse costumes will be brought to life by dancers at the GOMA Turns 10 opening weekend and become part of the exhibition’.

Mr Saines said ‘Sugar Spin’ would also include many acquisitions secured through the Gallery’s flagship Asia Pacific Triennial series of exhibitions, such as Huang Yong Ping’s monumental skeletal serpent Ressort 2012, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian’s multi-panel mirror mosaic Lightning for Neda 2009 and Lee Mingwei’s invitation to share intimate stories of how we relate to others in Writing the unspoken 1999.

Geraldine Barlow, QAGOMA’s Head of International Art said ‘Sugar Spin’ would make full use of GOMA’s unmatched exhibition spaces, taking audiences on a journey from the majestic to the minute, traversing five distinct chapters: ‘sweetmelt’, ‘blackwater’, ‘soaring’, ‘treasure’, and the dramatic finale of ‘cosmos’.

‘The exhibition will reflect the colour and energy of Queensland, Australia’s sugar state, drawing works from our leading artists together with their global peers. Playful and seductive, ‘Sugar Spin’ will bring moments of joy together with dizziness and a deeper sense of unease. It will reflect the beauty of the world we live in, as well as the complex challenges of these turbulent times,’ Ms Barlow said.

'Nervescape is Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir’s first work in Australia and her largest to date. Part beast, part hair-do, part colour field painting, Nervescape has been created especially for GOMA’s expansive Long Gallery. Like many works in ‘Sugar Spin’ it is super sweet, pumped with colour, energy, and a hint of disquiet.’

From 19 November, GOMA's Children’s Art Centre will present ‘Mirror Mirror’, a free and interactive project that has been developed in collaboration with Arnardóttir. In this immersive installation inspired by the artist’s vibrant and tactile practice, young visitors can create their own extraordinary paper hairstyle and help style a wall of artificial hair-like material.

To continue the celebrations, the Gallery will host the GOMA Turns 10 Summer Festival, an all-ages festival from 18-22 January. The festival will include artist talks, tours, creative workshops, storytelling, a crash course in contemporary art and an all-star line-up of musicians for Summer Festival Up Late, including tailored performances for children.

Managing Director of Audi Australia, Andrew Doyle, said the company was thrilled to be celebrating GOMA’s 10th birthday, and looked forward to supporting the Gallery as it continues to deliver memorable and transformative experiences for its audiences.

‘GOMA has established a global reputation for pushing boundaries with exhibitions that are well-aligned to Audi’s focus on creativity, progressive ideas and innovation,’ Mr Doyle said.

'For Audi, the partnership with one of Australia’s premier contemporary art institutions, QAGOMA, allows us to engage with local Queensland audiences. By supporting celebrations for GOMA Turns 10, we have an opportunity to give back to the community that supports our brand.’

‘Sugar Spin’ is made possible with the support of Principal Sponsor Audi Australia.

Join the conversation online and connect with #goma10@qagoma. For more information on GOMA Turns 10 and ‘Sugar Spin: you, me, art and everything’ visit www.qagoma.qld.gov.au.