EXHIBITION: Australian exotica
Ever since the fifteenth century, when European cartographers began including the contour of Terra Australis Incognita ('The unknown land of the south') in their speculative maps of the globe, the continent of Australia has been thought of as an exotic place. This characterisation of Australia as a land down under, where things are out of the ordinary and colourfully unconventional, remains a key feature of our national identity. In this latest collection show from MGA, we showcase a range of photographic work that engages with the theme of exotic antipodes. For many contemporary artists, this European vision is something that needs to be subverted and critiqued. For others, the idea of living in an eccentric environment continues to inspire a distinctively Australian sense of place. #australiaexotica #photography @mga_photography #australianhomeofphotography
Venue: Monash Gallery of Art
Address: 860 Ferntree Gully Road Wheelers Hill VIC 3150
Date: 16 April - 29 May 2016
Ticket: FREE ENTRY
Web: http://www.mga.org.au/exhibition/view/exhibition/195
: https://www.facebook.com/Monash.Gallery.of.Art/
: https://www.instagram.com/mga_photography/
: https://twitter.com/MGA_photography
EMail: mga@monash.vic.gov.au
Call: 03 8544 0500
Address: 860 Ferntree Gully Road Wheelers Hill VIC 3150
Date: 16 April - 29 May 2016
Ticket: FREE ENTRY
Web: http://www.mga.org.au/exhibition/view/exhibition/195
: https://www.facebook.com/Monash.Gallery.of.Art/
: https://www.instagram.com/mga_photography/
: https://twitter.com/MGA_photography
EMail: mga@monash.vic.gov.au
Call: 03 8544 0500
Ever since the fifteenth century, when European cartographers began including the contour of Terra Australis Incognita ('The unknown land of the south') in their speculative maps of the globe, the continent of Australia has been thought of as an exotic place.
This characterisation of Australia as a land down under, where things are out of the ordinary and colourfully unconventional, remains a key feature of our national identity.
In this latest collection show from MGA, we showcase a range of photographic work that engages with the theme of exotic antipodes. For many contemporary artists, this European vision is something that needs to be subverted and critiqued. For others, the idea of living in an eccentric environment continues to inspire a distinctively Australian sense of place.
MGA's Assistant Curator, Stella Loftus-Hills, says the exhibition, Australia exotica, highlights an intriguing aspect of MGA's collection of Australian photography, which is a seemingly endless fascination with the exotic nature of life 'down under'.
'Our aim is to provide people with the opportunity to achieve a deeper appreciation of photography and what MGA can offer,' said Loftus-Hills. 'This exhibition will have prominent Australian photographs that relate to what it means to be an Australian, or at least what someone looking in would think about this country "“ what makes us unique.'
Loftus-Hills continued, 'I hope people would leave feeling as though they had experienced something new and beautiful about this country that perhaps they hadn't realised before.'
Australian exotica features the work of 27 photographers, including Brook Andrew, Michael Cook, Fiona Foley, Rosemary Laing, Joseph McGlennon, Tracey Moffatt, Patricia Piccinini, Robyn Stacey and Christian Bumbarra Thompson.
This characterisation of Australia as a land down under, where things are out of the ordinary and colourfully unconventional, remains a key feature of our national identity.
In this latest collection show from MGA, we showcase a range of photographic work that engages with the theme of exotic antipodes. For many contemporary artists, this European vision is something that needs to be subverted and critiqued. For others, the idea of living in an eccentric environment continues to inspire a distinctively Australian sense of place.
MGA's Assistant Curator, Stella Loftus-Hills, says the exhibition, Australia exotica, highlights an intriguing aspect of MGA's collection of Australian photography, which is a seemingly endless fascination with the exotic nature of life 'down under'.
'Our aim is to provide people with the opportunity to achieve a deeper appreciation of photography and what MGA can offer,' said Loftus-Hills. 'This exhibition will have prominent Australian photographs that relate to what it means to be an Australian, or at least what someone looking in would think about this country "“ what makes us unique.'
Loftus-Hills continued, 'I hope people would leave feeling as though they had experienced something new and beautiful about this country that perhaps they hadn't realised before.'
Australian exotica features the work of 27 photographers, including Brook Andrew, Michael Cook, Fiona Foley, Rosemary Laing, Joseph McGlennon, Tracey Moffatt, Patricia Piccinini, Robyn Stacey and Christian Bumbarra Thompson.