Three new and unique exhibitions are opening this March at The Art Gallery of Western Australia, joining the four exhibitions currently running, including Pippin Drysdale’s Infinite Terrain, closing April 6, and Paola Pivi’s I don’t like it, I love it, closing April 26.
Read below to discover the new instalments, featuring works from the State Collection, interactive worlds, and a major celebration of an artist’s impact.
I AM
February 28 – October 24
Drawn from the State Art Collection, I AM brings together over 60 works by First Nations artists from across Australia, with Western Australian artists strongly represented.
11 Noongar artists feature, including linocut prints and etchings by Lauren Nannup, creator of the iconic First Contact sculpture at Elizabeth Quay. New acquisitions by Bella Kelly and Christopher Pease also make an appearance, these works engaging with Noongar Country through distinct themes and visual approaches.
Centring on personal and shared stories that elevate Aboriginal knowledge and perspectives, I AM reflects the dynamism of Aboriginal art, from traditions to contemporary expressions. Highlights include bark paintings, portraits and mental maps, and a major glass installation by Yhonnie Scarce addressing the history of atomic testing in Australia.
Bruce Asbestos: Cranky Pants
March 28 – April 25
UK artist Bruce Asbestos collaborates with AGWA for Cranky Pants, an exhibition asking important questions about how self-expression can help us develop a wider emotional palette, how shared creative experiences build a sense of belonging, and how bold pop-art characters help make gallery spaces more welcoming and accessible.
The interactive exhibition, set within a vivid pop art world of larger-than-life characters, invites visitors to explore identity, emotion and playful expression throughout the gallery experience.
Cranky Pants creates a welcoming space for audiences of all ages to explore both the serious and silly aspects of themselves – open through the April school holidays, so it’s a perfect one to visit with the kids.
Trần Lương: Tầm Tã – Soaked in the Long Rain
March 28 – August 16
Tầm Tã – Soaked in the Long Rain is the first significant presentation of Trần Lương’s work in Australia, offering insight into the artist’s multifaceted life and practice, shaped by political and social transitions in Vietnam, and his role as an activist, curator, facilitator, archivist and mentor.
Trần Lương has played a significant role in supporting critical contemporary art in Vietnam over the last 30 years, the exhibition delving into his career through painting, installation, performance and community engagement, tracing his shift from painting to performance and concept from the 1980s to now.
For an inside look at the exhibition, catch the opening talk with Trần Lương on Saturday, March 28, where Lương will explore the last three decades of development of contemporary art in Vietnam with AGWA curator Rachel Ciesla.