Modern Art

We didn't know about the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art but I'm glad we found it because I learnt a lot. 

The current exhibition is Asia Pacific Triennial. Before entering the building I thought I wouldn't like much of it because I wouldn't understand it, but as I was watching the first installation I suddenly realised I was looking it it from a different perspective. All those years of critically exclaiming "I don't understand it" or "What a load of rubbish" (there is still some stuff I don't understand though), and now I think "Yes I'm enjoying this" and "That's clever". And maybe that's it - it's not about understanding but enjoying.

Weaving

and Web making

Various aspects of Mumbai life captured on time lapse videos

'Kin' by Nadiah Bamadhaj consists of five beautifully graceful charcoal collage portraits of her family, in which each subject is depicted clothed in batik that includes a motif relating to their life experience and identity.

  

  

Up close the folds of material looked amazingly lifelike

These are pretty

This looks like painted planks of wood but I like it.

'Echo' by Le Thuy evokes a ruined house

The work began with the recovery of nine doors from a dismantled house in the historical town of Hội An, which the artist painted in red laquer and gold foiling, incorporating references to history, memento mori narratives and pan-Asian religions.

Alyen Leeachum Foning belongs to the Lepcha people of the Eastern Himalayas. Her installation is dedicated to her ancestors, and to the story of her people. The installation centres around the Muun, a traditional female shaman. Muuns are the medium between the spirit world, Mother Creator and humans. The headgear is created as a personal ceremonial regalia, channelling the song of the local Relli River and  honouring the cycles of life and death, and how we return to where we came from.

'Drifting Toward the Red Star' by Jagdish Moktan is an ongoing project through which he explores his family history from archives, photographs, socialist literature, communist ephemera and educational materials. His father migrated to the city as a young boy becoming a thangka painter, as did many young men, and was drawn to communism in the 1980s during a time of awareness among the oppressed. Moktan's work acknowledges his father's struggles.

Cranleigh Scool Library 2016

Charles Lim Yi Yong born 1973 Singapore. Lives and works in Singapore.

The picture is Cranleigh School Library 2016, courtesy of the artist.

In 1992, in his final year as a student at Cranleigh School in Surrey, Charles Lim stole a book from the school library. The book, titled 'Down The Wind: A Yachtsman's Anthology' is an autobiographical account by noted conservationist and sportsman Sir Peter Scott of the circumstances surrounding the invention of the trapeze. Scott claims to have introduced the device at the 1938 Prince of Wales Cup, and attributes his victory to its ingenuity. However there is widespread evidence that the dugang - a similar counterbalancing rope system developed in South East Asia - had been in use for generations before then, casting doubt on Scott's assertion that it was a British invention.

Lim still has the stolen paperback!

Eleng Luluan’s tapestry of Typhoon Koinu hitting Taiwan in 2023 is made entirely of recycled hessian sacks, fish nets, ropes and other debris.

'Blood, Flesh, Bone' by Chung Seoyoung references the basic materials that comprise human life.

Dear reader, I hope you have enjoyed the tour of the gallery.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Something Old Something Modern

My daughter and I visited the city library which we didn't have time for on a previous visit to the area. Travelling by ferry to the Southbank area.

I liked the look of this old boat moored on the river.

It's well equipped with satellite and solar panels. 

Google created this dynamic version

There are lots of bridges here, some pedestrian, some vehicles.

A short walk took us past this beautiful hand carved Nepalese Peace Pagoda.

The Pagoda was originally commissioned by the Association to preserve Asian culture on behalf of the Kingdom of Nepal, and to showcase Nepal's distinguised woodcarving heritage. It was installed at South Bank for Expo 88 and was so successful it became a coveted item, with several international bidders vying to keep it. It's still here thanks to generous donations from philanthropists Frank and Myra Pitt, contributions from Brisbane locals, the Australian Government and Brisbane City Council.

And in stark contrast the ultra modern library

is a beautiful piece of architecture.

And the interior is stunning

It has meeting rooms, quiet spaces for reference work, and lots of hub spaces for people to work with computers and the internet to creativity ideas and experimentation. There is also a very nice cafe and shop.

Although the Pagoda and Library are worlds apart in architectural styles, they both share a love of quiet learning and contemplation.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x