Curator + Artist + Community Conversations: Julie Gough

Woman (Julie Gough) sitting in front of book case

Join Julie Gough in a conversation on the new QVMAG Royal Park permanent galleries.

Overview

The new permanent galleries seek to create a space for reconciliation. It aims to change the colonial narrative that has dominated Tasmanian Galleries since the 19th-century.

The reinterpretation of the QVMAG’s collection reflects our histories, identities and stories in a fresh and contemporary context.

Focusing on local Aboriginal cultures, colonial history and modern diversity, this exhibition encourages us to contemplate the ever-changing cultural landscape and our sense of belonging within it.

As part of the transformation of Royal Park, QVMAG commissioned Julie Gough for her work titled IMPASSE: STOLEN GROUND.

Using clay sourced from Bothwell, Gough has created a lid for the elegant silver Bothwell cup within the QVMAG collection, positioning four figures on the lid to reference the colonial-era proclamation boards such as the one also on display. These boards reveal the brutal historical context for the cup, which Gough sees as a trophy of tragedy.

The work represents a poignant and relevant contemporary response to some of the darker aspects of Tasmanian history. It engages the controversial Bothwell Cup in a modern conversation about the ongoing effects of colonisation in Tasmania.

About the event

Through Julie Gough’s eyes we invite you to re-think our story and our sense of belonging to place. Does the term reconciliation resonate for Julie? We want to have an honest conversation with our community.

Has our attempt at diversifying the gallery succeeded? Is it truly contributing to reconciliation? Is the term reconciliation adequate from Julie Gough's perspective and for you? Join an open conversation between curator, artist and community.

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Speakers

Julie Gough

Julie is an artist, writer and curator who lives in Hobart, Tasmania. She was born in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia) in 1965, and has lived mostly in Tasmania since the end of 1993. Julie’s research and art practice involves uncovering and re-presenting subsumed and often conflicting histories, often referring to her own and her family’s experiences as Tasmanian Aboriginal people.

Julie is trawlwoolway through her maternal family, and her Traditional homeland is tebrikunna in far north eastern lutruwita/Tasmania. Julie holds a PhD from the University of Tasmania (2001), Masters degree (Visual Arts) University of London (Goldsmiths College) (1998), BA (Visual Arts) Curtin University West Australia (1994), BA Honours (Visual Arts) First Class, University of Tasmania (1995) and BA (Prehistory/ English Literature), University of West Australia (1987).

She has held over 20 solo exhibitions and exhibited in more than 130 group exhibitions since 1994, including The Clemenger Award, NGV (2009), Biennale of Sydney (2006), Liverpool Biennale, UK (1999), Perspecta, AGNSW (1995). Her work is held in many private and public collections including the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Art Gallery of West Australia, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the National Museum of Australia and the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery.

Ashley Bird

With more than a decade of experience in commercial galleries across Australia, and through education in creative practice at the University of Tasmania, Ashley has developed a rich career in the arts and cultural sector.

Originally hailing from Melbourne, Ashley first started his career in garment construction, leading to a career path across the industries of film and television.

Since moving to Tasmania and becoming a Curator for the Visual Art and Design collection at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Ashley has remained a passionate professional custodian of the unique collection at QVMAG.

As a practicing artist, Ashley is committed to nurturing and fostering the creativity of Tasmanians through the QVMAG collection, now and in the future.