QAGOMA’s newest exhibition, Living Patterns, premieres this Saturday and is set to spotlight contemporary Australian artists such as Scott Redford, Jemima Wyman, Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie and many more. Focusing on the way audiences perceive and react to artistic elements such as colour, shape and form, many of the works in the exhibition convey how motifs and symbols from all artistic lineages – recent and ancient – can be applied in new and innovative ways. While some artworks may look as though they have no resemblance to a physical object at first glance, they are in fact full of encoded cultural knowledge that is shown through the artists dynamic works. Living Patterns takes a political approach to abstractions, addressing how concealment is used differently by the powerful and vulnerable, in a contemporary society that regards transparency as a high value.

To celebrate Living Patterns and the 100th year of the 16mm gauge film format, a range of exciting experimental films will be screened in the new film program, Colour Box. Taking place from September 24 to February 4, 2024, this colour-filled showcase will highlight the format’s long-standing relationship with abstract cinema through a spectacular selection of contemporary and archival 16mm pictures.

Eager to experience this engaging exhibition? Living Patterns will take over Queensland Art Gallery from September 23 to February 11, 2024. For more information on the showcase and its accompanied cinema program, head to the QAGOMA website. 

_{Image one: Jemima Wyman / Pairrebeener people / Australia/United States b.1977 / Aggregrate Icon (Kaleidoscopic Catchment) 2014 / Hand-cut digital photographs and archival tape / 205cm (diam.) / Purchased 2014. Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation Grant / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © JemimaWyman
Image two: Christian Capurro / Australia b.1968 / Howells (enclasticine 515) 2020–21 / Inkjet prints on Canson Platine Photographic Rag Paper / 93.8 x 145cm (image) / 111.8 x 163cm (sheet) / Private Collection / © Christian Capurro / Courtesy: The artist, Melbourne, and Milani Gallery, Brisbane
Image three: Mikala Dwyer / Australia b.1959 / The Collapzars 2012 / Fabric, plastic, paint, glue, clay, sequins / 8 parts: 300 × 300 x 50cm (irreg., installed) / © Mikala Dwyer / Courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney
Image four: John Spiteri / Australia b.1967 / Me in my tomb de-LUXE2019 / Oil and enamel on canvas / 183 x 137cm / Private collection, Sydney / Courtesy: Sally Breen / © John Spiteri / Image courtesy: the artist and Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney
Image five: Clare Milledge / Australia NSW b.1977 / Sruth 2021 / Oil on toughened glass, reclaimed timber (Eucalyptus oreades) / Diptych: 110.0 x 221.5 cm (110 x 110cm, each) / © Clare Milledge / Courtesy: the artist and STATION / Image courtesy: the artist and STATION}