SCAF – Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation

A Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation and the Queensland Art Gallery Children’s Art Centre collaborative exhibition.

In what is a first for Sydney, Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation in partnership with the Queensland Art Gallery’s Children’s Art Centre presents Contemporary Art for Contemporary Kids — an interactive multimedia exhibition featuring a selection of  projects created by artists especially for children and families.

Comprising five recent projects developed by the Children’s Art Centre, Contemporary Art for Contemporary Kids highlights the multifaceted theme of collaboration. Collaboration is important in many contemporary artists’ practices — the art works in the exhibition incorporate the audience, their stories and the participation of young visitors, in order to reflect artists’ ideas in ways that are appealing to children.

“This exhibition will see the gallery and art become an adventure for children where they will be encouraged to touch, draw and construct, and thoroughly engage with a diverse collection of works from leading national and international artists,” says Dr Gene Sherman AM.

“The Children’s Art Centre is a leader in providing a stimulating range of programs, artist projects and exhibitions for children”, says Tony Ellwood, Director, Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art, “and this exhibition highlights the shared commitment by both the Queensland Art Gallery and the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation to the value of contemporary art in the creative development of young museum visitors.”

ARTIST PROJECTS:

ALFREDO & ISABEL AQUILIZAN

In-flight (Project: Another Country) 2009

Brisbane-based artists Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan’s project, In-flight (Project: Another Country) 2009, asks participants to make aeroplanes out of found materials. Using the recycled objects as well as off-cuts and twine, participants are invited to construct aircraft within a dynamic activity space. Touching on themes of migration, family and memory, the recycled planes form a giant flock suspended from the ceiling.

SUTEE KUNAVICHAYANONT

Classroom upside down 2006

School will never be the same after children experience Sutee Kunavichayanont’s ‘classroom’.

Turning school tables upside down and conventional ideas on their head, the artist’s carvings of animals, buildings and people combine different cultural sources, encouraging children to look at familiar things in new ways and to think about how different cultures might interact.  Children can participate in the artwork by making rubbings of all the carved surfaces.

WILLIAM YANG

Australia now 2009

For Australian–Chinese artist William Yang’s project, Australia now, children are invited to connect with his interest in autobiography by drawing their self-portraits, writing stories from their lives and discovering which animal sign they are on the Chinese zodiac.

MONIR SHAHROUDY FARMANFARMAIAN

Patterns of infinity 2009

Iranian artist Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian is inspired by the spiritual significance and mesmerising visual effects of Islamic geometric patterns. Using computer touchscreens, participants can create colourful geometric designs, discovering the complexity and beauty of Islamic patterns and how Monir’s installations and mirror mosaics draw inspiration from these time-honoured design principles.

ARLENE TEXTAQUEEN

Unseen superheroes of the working world 2009

Arlene TextaQueen works with felt-tip markers to create tongue-in-cheek portraits of the fabulous characters that inhabit her world. Young visitors are invited to create their very own mini-deck of snap cards, adding bright colours using felt-tip pens before playing a game or two with friends and family.