2007-08 Report

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DIRECTOR’S OVERVIEW QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY ANNUAL REPORT 2007–08 11
DIRECTOR'S OVERVIEW
It has been a privilege to take on the role of Director just
six months after the opening of the Queensland Art
Gallery's second site, the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA).
This year the Gallery has presented two major international
exhibitions — attracting outstanding attendances to
Australia's first major Andy Warhol retrospective and, more
recently, presenting Pablo Picasso's collection for the first
time outside Europe. Both 'Andy Warhol' and 'Picasso &
his collection' have been exclusive to Brisbane, and have
been resoundingly supported by our audiences and by
stakeholders from many sectors, including important
government and corporate supporters. The presentation of
these exhibitions has been a great achievement.
More than 232 000 people attended 'Andy Warhol', a paid
exhibition record for the Gallery. The economic impact to
Queensland, according to the Tourism and Economic
Evaluation commissioned by the Gallery, was $14.2
million. Programs were developed specifically for teachers
and educators, and more than 25 000 school students
visited. A Friends membership drive during 'Andy Warhol'
generated an extraordinary response, with membership
growing by more than 400 per cent. The Gallery's first Up
Late series, introduced during the 'Andy Warhol'
exhibition, successfully attracted new and capacity
audiences.
'Picasso & his collection' opened just prior to the close of
this financial year but has already attracted a high number
of visitors. The Gallery is indebted to the exhibition's
partners and sponsors whose involvement has been
essential, and in particular we thank and acknowledge
Art Exhibitions Australia (AEA), our partner with this
project. Working with AEA, a record level of sponsorship
has been secured and we are extremely grateful for this
unprecedented support.
In addition to these international highlights, the Gallery
presented an intensive and diverse exhibition program
across both sites. The program included major solo
exhibitions and retrospectives of works by Queensland,
Australian and international artists (including Gordon
Bennett, Kenneth Macqueen, Sidney Nolan, Howard Arkley,
Pierre Bismuth and Katharina Grosse); award exhibitions
such as the 'Xstrata Coal Emerging Indigenous Art Award
2007' and the 'Creative Generation Excellence Awards in
Visual Art and Design'; and programs presented by the
Australian Cinémathèque, including exhibitions dedicated
to moving-image and video work in GoMA's Media Gallery
and film programs in the cinemas.
The Gallery also presented regularly changing displays of
works from its Collection across both sites. At the
Queensland Art Gallery (QAG), these included 'British
Prints: Pop to the '90s', 'Three Ways: Contemporary
Sculpture from the Collection' and 'Protest: Australian
Political Posters 1972–92'; at GoMA, these included
contemporary Indigenous art works in 'Sand : Savanna :
Salt', as well as international works for 'In the Spirit of
Fluxus'.
The development of the Gallery's Collection continued,
with a highlight being the acquisition of the major Anish
Kapoor sculpture Untitled 2006–07. Displayed in GoMA,
this significant acquisition is dedicated to my predecessor,
Doug Hall, AM, for his 20-year contribution as Director.
Another acquisition highlight was the large-scale sculpture
by New Zealand artist Michael Parekowhai The Horn of
Africa2006. This work is dedicated to former Chair of the
Board of Trustees Wayne Goss. One of the most recent
additions to the historical Australian collection is a
painting by major colonial artist Eugene von Guérard, the
acquisition of which was made possible by the generous
support of Brisbane gallery director Philip Bacon, AM, who
is also a Special Patron of the Queensland Art Gallery
Foundation.
The exhibition and display activity across two sites was
accompanied by an increase in publishing. Substantial
publications were produced for 'Andy Warhol' and 'Picasso
& his collection' and for the survey of Kenneth Macqueen
watercolours. Special editions were produced of some
publications, including a limited numbered edition of
Katharina Grosse: Picture Park, each copy of which
featured a canvas cover painted by the artist. The
members' magazine, Artlines, was redeveloped and
redesigned to provide previews and reviews of key
exhibitions and programs at the Gallery.
The Gallery increased access to the Collection for all
Queenslanders by providing exhibitions, programs and
services to regional Queensland. Coinciding with the Andy
Warhol Summer Festival, a day of Warhol-inspired
activities took place in 24 regional Queensland venues;
and to coincide with 'Picasso & his collection', 25 regional
venues will participate in a lecture tour. 'Myth to Modern',
an exhibition of figurative bronzes from the Collection,
continued its 13-venue tour; and Olafur Eliasson's
The cubic structural evolution project 2004 began a
12-venue tour of regional Queensland. Preparations also
continued this year for a touring exhibition of key works
from the contemporary Asian and Pacific collections,
including many works featured in the Asia Pacific Triennial
of Contemporary Art exhibition series. Selected works by
Kenneth Macqueen, exhibited in 2007–08 at QAG, will
also travel in 2008–09.
Eugene von Guérard
Austria/Australia
1811–1901
A view from Daylesford towards
the Pyrenees c.1864
Oil on canvas
35.5 x 63.8cm
Purchased 2008 with funds from
Philip Bacon, AM, through the
Queensland Art Gallery Foundation