GOMA Brisbane 

Gallery of Modern Arts

Being in a new city I get pretty excited about all the places to explore.   The benefit of living in a new place is I don’t have to rush out and see it all at once, which would be the case if I was visiting on a holiday.  Last weekend I enjoyed a leisurely outing to explore Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Arts.

I’d been curious and impressed by the gallery’s architecture when walking past it on the river front.  Architectus, a large architectural company based in Sydney, was commissioned by the Queensland Government in 2002 to design the gallery.  The building responds to the site by facing the river and pointing towards the city with large transparent glass walls to create a sense of friendliness while not compromising on the huge gallery spaces for displaying art.  The architecture is considered ‘international style’, but at the same time being responsive to its local context.    

Gallery of Modern Art Brisbane

Upon entering the gallery, the large scale of its interior is what impressed me.  However my attention to the architecture was short lived as I became distracted by the art.  Funny that.  The most thought provoking exhibition for me was ‘Sculpture is Everything’ where artists used found materials, film, photography and motorised displays to create their sculptures. 

GOMA purchased Lara Favaretto’s, of Italy, car wash brushes and electrical motors sculpture.  This was an amazing buzz of colour.  It created a breeze and made me think of candy, the circus and being a kid. 

Lara Favaretto's Car Wash Sculputre

The exhibit that kept me thinking even as I left the gallery was Ai Weiwei’s photographic installation.  I’m sure you’ve all seen it before.  

Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn

Dropping the Han Dynasty Urn is ‘criminal’ only because of the perceived value of it.  Relating this to my own life, I see that everyone values their space, possessions, fashion, hobbies etc... differently.  Ok, not as profound as Ai Weiwei.  But I like to think I might be more understanding towards other people’s values, and perhaps more sensible about my own.