From tomorrow, visitors to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG) will be immersed in a large-scale digital art takeover of the Art Gallery at Royal Park.
Through captivating visuals projected onto the vast canvas of Gallery 9, paired with the fluid movement of live dance performance, Ground Beneath | Ocean Between will have visitors exploring the human desire to connect, identify, accept and belong with Launceston youth dance company, Stompin.
City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said the exhibition, and live performances, would be an experience not to be missed.
“It’s great to see two beloved Launnie institutions come together through a collaboration like this,” Mayor Garwood said.
“Stompin plays an important role in the Australian youth dance scene, and it’s fantastic to see their latest performance vision come to life through the support and input of QVMAG.”
Creative Arts and Cultural Services General Manager Shane Fitzgerald said the exhibition would offer a truly unique experience for visitors exploring QVMAG.
“We’re committed to facilitating unique and creative experiences across northern Tasmania through collaborations such as this,” Fitzgerald said.
“Our vision is to ensure the ongoing activation and accessibility of our spaces and I’d encourage everyone to explore this brilliant exhibition and live performance series at the Art Gallery at Royal Park while it’s on display.”
Celebrating 30+ years, Stompin is a vital force in Australian youth dance, leading the sector with its ambitious site-specific practice, innovative programs and empowering approach to the engagement and development of young dance artists in Launceston.
Stompin Guest Choreographer Liesel Zink said through this site-specific work, visitors will witness the power of young people working together.
"Through Stompin's distinctive approach to youth-led site-specific work, the QVMAG will be transformed into a visually captivating and reflective space, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in Tasmania’s dynamic environment while witnessing how it permeates through the lives of young people,” Zink said.
“The choreography will express the uniqueness of each individual while highlighting the power of young people working together; interweaving their stories, insights and perspectives into a larger movement, born from the spirit of Tasmania’s community."
Stompin Youth Project leader Amy Baillie said performances such as this play an important role in the growth and development of young people in Tasmania.
"Stompin continually proves to demonstrate and surpass their capacity to alter a young person’s life,” Baillie said.
“Through every interaction, every moment, a young person grows artistically whilst learning about themselves, with an entire community around them to lift them up.”
Stompin Artistic Director Caitlin Comerford said the collaboration with QVMAG offered a great way to empower young artists and amplify their voices.
"In a first for both Stompin and QVMAG, we are bringing 'youth, dance and community' into a gallery space for not only a site-specific performance but also for a 3-month exhibition,” Comerford said.
“We are invested in this exciting collab with QVMAG to empower our young artists to feel seen and heard in a space that hasn't traditionally been a space for youth perspective.
“This project elevates our young people's voice and challenges them to think about new ways of sharing their ideas and art.
“We've been excited to learn from the experienced team at QVMAG about Visual Art and connect to their visitors and community—we're also thrilled to share youth-arts-practice, at its best, with QVMAG, embedding young people, as leaders, across all layers of the project."
Ground Beneath | Ocean Between will be on display at the Queen Victoria Art Gallery at Royal Park from 9 September to 3 November 2024. Entry to the exhibition is free.
Performance dates: 18-22 September 2024. For tickets: www.stompin.net
Issued 17 September 2024.