Running from June till October 2011, GOMA’s Surrealism: The Poetry of Dreams is a major exhibition including more than 180 paintings, sculptures, photographs, works on paper and films by 56 artists, dating from 1916 to 1966 from the Pompidou Centre, Paris. Although many art-lovers are critical about another blockbuster exhibition at GOMA and its presentation, lack of women artists, diversity and significant works etc. (as GOMA tries to give the impression that their show has left the Pompidou with bare walls (1)) the evidence of its success and it’s importance to the community cannot be denied.
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| promotional material from Surrealism: The Poetry of Dreams, found at http://qag.qld.gov.au/ |
Art still carries the stigma of being a bourgeois past-time. By turning up our noses at blockbuster exhibitions such as Surrealism: The Poetry of Dreams because they cater to the wider community instead of just the art-loving few, we art-lovers unfortunately perpetuate this stereotype. Art should be enjoyed by everyone, and if blockbusters such as Surrealism: The Poetry of Dreams draw in people who don’t claim to know or appreciate art, then I believe exhibitions such as this are an amazing success for the gallery and evidence of its ability to connect with the community. Further evidence of its success is that the Pompidou was the one to approach GOMA to offer the touring Surrealism exhibition exclusively to Brisbane after its Tokyo visit because the Pompidou recognized GOMA’s success, largely because of previous blockbuster exhibitions (3).
The Surrealism exhibit is the first collaboration any Australian art gallery has had with the Pompidou and since its opening it is the Pompidou who have been singing GOMA’s praises the loudest (4). THis is something that any Australian and particularly Queensland art-lover should be proud of. It is also due to the success of blockbusters such as Surrealism: The Poetry of Dreams that GOMA is able to generate the interest and funding required to then put on other exhibitions that can be enjoyed by those who are turned off by blockbusters such as Land, Sea and Sky, the largest exhibition of Torres Strait Islander art ever exhibited which is currently showing above Surrealism: The Poetry of Dreams. (5) This is evidenced by Events Queensland’s chief executive John O'Sullivan stating "as recently as eight years ago we didn't put anything into the arts but it now accounts for 25per cent of our spending". (6)
The ‘getting bums on seats’ routine may be a turn off to some, but I believe GOMA and it’s director Tony Ellwood have been quite savvy to not only bring to Brisbane, art that appeals to all walks of life such as Surrealism: The poetry of dreams, but in the process forge relationships and raise funding that enable GOMA to be a competitive and important part of the local and global art world.
Jessica Row
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(1) from: http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/surrealism-from-paris-with-love/story-fn6ck8la-1226073448494
(6) from: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/now-is-the-winter-of-gomas-surreal-content/story-e6frg8n6-1226018662817
Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad someone mentioned this!!!
Awesome read - Really well put.
My sentiment exactly.