After a delightful stroll along the Southbank of the Brisbane River and lunch in one of the many restaurants I head to the Art Gallery.
The first gallery room showcased Aboriginal art. I am fascinated by the structure and design, and overwhelmed by the size and precise placing of the dots and crisscross patterns.
I stood for quite a while in front of this large painting. I wasn’t the only person finding it photo worthy.
I took a closer look and marvelled at the precise placement of the thousands of carefully placed dots that join into a seamless flowing of rippling water.
Look closer. It has a hypnotic, three dimensional appearance.
The tiny dots are so incredibly perfect, I wonder at the time and intense concentration needed to create this masterpiece. I am always pleased when galleries put background detail of the work.
I move on to another type of Aboriginal art. Again the canvas is large and the work very detailed and precise.
A gallery guide is giving an insight into the meaning of these works of art. This one is a story of a traditional ceremony. Again I look closely and am amazed at the delicate crisscrossing of lines, known as rarrk, every one perfectly placed. The colours used are the rich earthy tones of the land.
There were many more traditional paintings to admire but the final painting in this gallery is quite different. My eyes were drawn again and again to this shadowy, mystical image.
Moving into the next gallery it is a visual change from the norm. The walls have been painted to be part of the overall exhibition. I find it quite confronting to start with. But then, as I wander round, the background walls seem to enhance the paintings.
Women feature in all these paintings.
The next gallery, again, has boldly painted walls.
Then turning into the next gallery I am confronted with this…
A life-size, dead elephant…
Well, what do you think? I marvel at a person’s mind that would think of this. Then the actual creation of the form of the elephant, but then to stick thousands of tiny “bindis” all over the form. I had to look closer…
Jack says “that looks like thousands of sperm swimming for their life”…
Ok!!! Time for a coffee…
But the day is not over yet. The next post I will take you for a stroll through the Botanic Gardens and a ferry ride…