Leading Indigenous sculpture coming to Melbourne Museum

Leading Indigenous sculpture coming to Melbourne Museum

Melbourne Museum will host Australia's most extensive touring exhibition of contemporary Indigenous sculpture with the launch of Menagerie: ContemporaryIndigenous Sculpture on December 16.

The groundbreaking exhibition features sculpture depicting a variety of animalsby 33 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, working in materials rangingfrom ceramics to traditional materials such as wood and fibre.

The artists, representing every Australian state and territory, were selected byexhibition curators Brian Parkes and Nicole Foreshew, and reflect the breadthand variety of contemporary sculpture by Australian Indigenous artists.

Menagerie includes works by Victorian artist Treahna Hamm as well as fibreworks by Yvonne Koolmatrie from South Australia, ceramics by Judith Inkamalafrom the Northern Territory, wood carving by Craig Koomeeta from Queenslandand work cast in bronze and aluminium by Dennis Nona from the Torres StraitIslands.

"Menagerie is a wonderful exhibition showcasing the incredible diversity of workby today's Indigenous artists," said Caroline Martin, Manager of Bunjilaka,Melbourne Museum. "This exhibition shows how traditional Indigenous cultureand practice is seamlessly integrated with contemporary art making and ideas.The result is a lively collection of work bound to capture visitors' imaginations."

Menagerie is developed by Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design and the Australian Museum,Sydney. Its presentation at Melbourne Museum is part of Designed to Inspire, a series of exhibitionsdedicated to the recognition and promotion of the work of emerging and practising Australian designers.Previous design exhibitions at Melbourne Museum include Premier's Design Awards and the BombaySapphire Design Discovery Award Exhibition.

Menagerie 16 December - 21 February (free with general admission)
Melbourne Museum, Nicholson Street, Carlton
Adults $8, children and concessions FREE
For further information visit museumvictoria.com.au or phone 13 11 02.

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Patrick Freddy Puruntatameri, Jurrukukuni (Owl) 2008.
Courtesy the artist and Jilamara Arts and Crafts. Photo: Australian Museum