Paperskin: Barkcloth from the Pacific Islands at Queensland Art Gallery
Review by CHRISTIANE BIRKETT
January 18, 2010
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| Installation view of Paperskin: Barkcloth Across the Pacific. Photograph courtesy of the Queensland Art Gallery. |
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| Installation view of Paperskin: Barkcloth Across the Pacific. Photograph courtesy of the Queensland Art Gallery. |
The
Queensland Art Gallery in Brisbane, Australia presents the special exhibition
Paperskin: Barkcloth from the Pacific Islands at its Gallery of Modern Art from October 31, 2009 to February 14, 2010. The works on view were loaned by various regional museums and private collections, among them the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Bark Cloth in the Pacific RegionCloth has been made from the bark of mostly mulberry, banyan and breadfruit trees for some 3,000 years in the Pacific Islands. It has continued to be an important part of social and political life there. The fabric has been exchanged as gifts, used in ceremonies and worn in everyday life. Its designs add a unique dimension to this functional artwork.
The rare items are displayed in a single brightly lit room with a high ceiling, airy and ideally suited for wall hangings, masks and other sculptural objects. Lights come on automatically in some of the recessed cases.
Identifying the Objects
Each piece has a label that provides the title, country of origin, date, material and source for the objects displayed. Some include important information that explains a work's design, the techniques used to create it, the meaning of geometric and abstract motifs and its use in daily life.
Don't miss
Hiapo (19th Century). It bears an amazing resemblance to the mathematical and illusionistic prints of Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher (1898-1972)
Turtle and the Shark Legend from Samoa
In one small alcove, there's a large screen where visitors can view
The Turtle and the Shark, a Samoan legend. This continuously playing DVD describes a tale about forbidden love between two people of different tribes. Not wanting to dishonor their families, they throw themselves off a high cliff and are magically transformed into a turtle and a shark so they can remain together in the sea. The cartoon-style figures and background are illustrated using the barkcloth technique, which adds an interesting visual dimension to the story.
Nearby are two computers that visitors can use to access more information about the exhibition. The barkcloth theme is carried throughout as even the mouse pads have the same motif.
There's a second DVD continuously running in the show's central area with a video that describes Pacific Island dancers and their ceremonies.
Animal Sculptures and MasksPart of the installation is devoted to sculpture. There are stylized birds, a crocodile, other animals and ceremonial masks. These works are made of barkcloth (sometimes dyed), wood, fibres, feathers, cane and grasses.
Although the items beg to be felt or stroked, there's no touching in the exhibition. The same holds true for photography.
Queensland Art GalleryThe Queensland Art Gallery has been housed in a dynamic modern building on the south bank of Brisbane, Australia since 1982. The Gallery of Modern Art branch, 150 metres from the main location, opened in December 2006. It focuses on the art of the 20th and 21st Centuries. The structure is also devoted to profiling works by indigenous artists.