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‘Lightness and Gravity’
Contemporary Works from the Collection
Mar 2012 - Oct 2012

‘Lightness & Gravity: Contemporary Works from the Collection’ features an international selection of artists and a number of recent major acquisitions that point to a longstanding philosophical discussion of the fundamental character of life as weighty, meaningful and constrained by history, or as playful and arbitrary — and thereby free. Many artists have navigated between these poles, as in Mario Giacomelli’s photographs of priests cavorting in the snow, or in Song Dong’s record of the repeated gesture of stamping water in a river — effort that leaves no trace. Other artists in the exhibition include Adel Abdessemed, Marina de Caro, Julian Hooper, Lee Ufan, Nalini Malani, Almagul Menlibayeva, Tracey Moffatt, Nasreen Mohamedi, Pushpamala, Michael Riley, Guy Tillim and Kara Walker.


‘Lightness & Gravity’ was on display at GOMA from 3 March to 21 October 2012.

 

Feature image: Shigeo Toya’s Woods III  (foreground) and Dong Song’s Stamping the water 1996, installed for ‘Lightness & Gravity’, GOMA, 2012 / © The artists / Photograph: QAGOMA

Collection artworks featured in ‘Lightness and Gravity’

Artwork Head on this artwork made of Neon, created in 2007-01-01

Head on 2007-08
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Untitled 1974, printed 2007
Artwork Swanrider this artwork made of Type C photograph on paper, created in 2004-01-01

Swanrider 2004
Artwork Wrapping history this artwork made of Duratrans print in light box, created in 2010-01-01

Wrapping history 2010
Artwork Bruxelles 05/06 this artwork made of Chromogenic colour print on paper with Diasec (acrylic sheet), created in 2006-01-01

Bruxelles 05/06 2006
Artwork Library, sports club, Kolwezi, DR Congo (from 'Avenue Patrice Lumumba' series) this artwork made of Inkjet print (Epsom Ultracrhome HDR ink) on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 300gsm paper, created in 2007-01-01

Library, sports club, Kolwezi, DR Congo (from 'Avenue Patrice Lumumba' series) 2007
Artwork Apartment building, Beira, Mozambique (from 'Avenue Patrice Lumumba' series) this artwork made of Inkjet print (Epsom Ultracrhome HDR ink) on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 300gsm paper, created in 2008-01-01

Apartment building, Beira, Mozambique (from 'Avenue Patrice Lumumba' series) 2008
Artwork Savant (from 'An unpeopled land in uncharted waters' series) this artwork made of Etching with aquatint, sugar-lift, spit-bite and dry-point on Hahnemühle Copperplate Bright White 300gsm paper, created in 2010-01-01

Savant (from 'An unpeopled land in uncharted waters' series) 2010
Artwork Dread (from 'An unpeopled land in uncharted waters' series) this artwork made of Etching with aquatint, sugar-lift, spit-bite and dry-point on Hahnemühle Copperplate Bright White 300gsm paper, created in 2010-01-01

Dread (from 'An unpeopled land in uncharted waters' series) 2010
Artwork The Count transformed (from 'Liliu' series) this artwork made of Watercolour and collage on paper, created in 2007-01-01

The Count transformed (from 'Liliu' series) 2007
Artwork Flight (from 'Liliu' series) this artwork made of Watercolour and collage on paper, created in 2007-01-01

Flight (from 'Liliu' series) 2007
Artwork Feast (from 'Liliu' series) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 2007-01-01

Feast (from 'Liliu' series) 2007
Artwork Mohini (from 'Stories retold' series) this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint, watercolour and enamel on Mylar, created in 2002-01-01

Mohini (from 'Stories retold' series) 2002
Artwork The ecstasy of Radha (from 'Stories retold' series) this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint, watercolour and enamel on Mylar, created in 2002-01-01

The ecstasy of Radha (from 'Stories retold' series) 2002
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1963-01-01

Untitled c.1968
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1963-01-01

Untitled c.1968
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1967-01-01

Untitled c.1972
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1976-01-01

Untitled c.1981
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1976-01-01

Untitled c.1981
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1976-01-01

Untitled c.1981
Artwork Bhayanaka (Fear) (from 'The Navarasa suite' from the 'Bombay Photo Studio' series) this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph, sepia-toned on paper, created in 2000-01-01

Bhayanaka (Fear) (from 'The Navarasa suite' from the 'Bombay Photo Studio' series) 2000-03
Artwork Sringara (Love) (from 'The Navarasa suite' from the 'Bombay Photo Studio' series) this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph, sepia-toned on paper, created in 2000-01-01

Sringara (Love) (from 'The Navarasa suite' from the 'Bombay Photo Studio' series) 2000-03
Artwork Los Altos Drive-In (Lakewood) this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1993-01-01

Los Altos Drive-In (Lakewood) 1993
Artwork i am flesh again this artwork made of Pen with watercolour on Arches hot-pressed watercolour paper, created in 2008-01-01

i am flesh again 2008
Artwork Toyota this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on metal, created in 2007-01-01

Toyota 2007
Artwork Nissan this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on metal, created in 2007-01-01

Nissan 2007
Artwork Chessboard painting #8 this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on inlaid wooden chessboard, created in 2008-01-01

Chessboard painting #8 2008
Artwork Note to self this artwork made of Watercolour and pencil on paper, created in 2008-01-01

Note to self 2008
Artwork Maturing this artwork made of Single-channel video (DVD): 30 minutes, colour, silent, created in 2008-01-01

Maturing 2008
Artwork Travellers no. 3 this artwork made of Limoges porcelain, wheelthrown, created in 2001-01-01

Travellers no. 3 2001
Artwork The explanation is boring. It's simple. I don't care this artwork made of Lightjet print on paper, created in 2006-01-01

The explanation is boring. It's simple. I don't care 2006, printed 2009
Artwork Meteora - Kalambaka this artwork made of Monoprint on paper, created in 2006-01-01

Meteora - Kalambaka 2006
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Monoprint on paper, created in 2006-01-01

Untitled 2006
Artwork Espera (Waiting) this artwork made of Coloured pencil, charcoal and pastel on paper, created in 2011-01-01

Espera (Waiting) 2011
Artwork This painting is all I know, I've got nothing else to show this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on board, created in 2006-01-01

This painting is all I know, I've got nothing else to show 2006
Artwork Io non ho mani che mi accarezzino il volto (There are no hands to caress my face) (Pretini) this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1961-01-01

Io non ho mani che mi accarezzino il volto (There are no hands to caress my face) (Pretini) 1961-63, printed 1985
Artwork La buona terra this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1964-01-01

La buona terra 1964
Artwork Birmingham race riot this artwork made of Screenprint on paper, created in 1964-01-01

Birmingham race riot 1964
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Someone I don't know who reminds me of someone you don't know 2004
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Untitled 1974, printed 2007
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Archival inkjet pigment print on paper, created in 2008-01-01

Untitled 2008-09
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

One love 2007
Artwork City Hall, Lubumbashi, DR Congo (from 'Avenue Patrice Lumumba' series) this artwork made of Inkjet print (Epsom Ultracrhome HDR ink) on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 300gsm paper, created in 2007-01-01

City Hall, Lubumbashi, DR Congo (from 'Avenue Patrice Lumumba' series) 2007
Artwork Old landline exchange, Post Office, Lubumbashi, DR Congo (from 'Avenue Patrice Lumumba' series) this artwork made of Inkjet print (Epsom Ultracrhome HDR ink) on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 300gsm paper, created in 2007-01-01

Old landline exchange, Post Office, Lubumbashi, DR Congo (from 'Avenue Patrice Lumumba' series) 2007
Artwork No world (from 'An unpeopled land in uncharted waters' series) this artwork made of Etching with aquatint, sugar-lift, spit-bite and dry-point on Hahnemühle Copperplate Bright White 300gsm paper, created in 2010-01-01

No world (from 'An unpeopled land in uncharted waters' series) 2010
Artwork The secret sharerer (from 'An unpeopled land in uncharted waters' series) this artwork made of Etching with aquatint, sugar-lift, spit-bite and dry-point on Hahnemühle Copperplate Bright White 300gsm paper, created in 2010-01-01

The secret sharerer (from 'An unpeopled land in uncharted waters' series) 2010
Artwork Long March in Panjiayuan A this artwork made of Type C photograph on paper, created in 2004-01-01

Long March in Panjiayuan A 2004
Artwork Bucalevu (from 'Liliu' series) this artwork made of Watercolour and collage on paper, created in 2007-01-01

Bucalevu (from 'Liliu' series) 2007
Artwork The future of Europe is darker than the dark before my eyes (from 'Liliu' series) this artwork made of Watercolour and collage on paper, created in 2007-01-01

The future of Europe is darker than the dark before my eyes (from 'Liliu' series) 2007
Artwork Tongan countess (from 'Liliu' series) this artwork made of Watercolour and collage on paper, created in 2007-01-01

Tongan countess (from 'Liliu' series) 2007
Artwork Man from Deta (from 'Liliu' series) this artwork made of Watercolour and collage on paper, created in 2007-01-01

Man from Deta (from 'Liliu' series) 2007
Artwork Putana (from 'Stories retold' series) this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint, watercolour and enamel on Mylar, created in 2002-01-01

Putana (from 'Stories retold' series) 2002
Artwork Varaha-Krishna (from 'Stories retold' series) this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint, watercolour and enamel on Mylar, created in 2002-01-01

Varaha-Krishna (from 'Stories retold' series) 2002
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1963-01-01

Untitled c.1968
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1953-01-01

Untitled c.1958
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1967-01-01

Untitled c.1972
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1976-01-01

Untitled c.1981
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1976-01-01

Untitled c.1981
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1976-01-01

Untitled c.1981
Artwork Bhibhatsa (Revulsion) (from 'The Navarasa suite' from the 'Bombay Photo Studio' series) this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph, sepia-toned on paper, created in 2000-01-01

Bhibhatsa (Revulsion) (from 'The Navarasa suite' from the 'Bombay Photo Studio' series) 2000-03
Artwork Stamping the water this artwork made of Type C photograph on paper, created in 1996-01-01

Stamping the water 1996
Artwork AIDS Series/Geisha in Bath this artwork made of Watercolour on canvas, created in 1988-01-01

AIDS Series/Geisha in Bath 1988
Artwork Holden this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on metal, created in 2007-01-01

Holden 2007
Artwork Toyota HiLux this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on metal, created in 2007-01-01

Toyota HiLux 2007
Artwork Boulder prototype #2 this artwork made of Laser-cut Perspex, created in 2008-01-01

Boulder prototype #2 2008
Artwork Green jacket this artwork made of Watercolour and pencil on paper, created in 2008-01-01

Green jacket 2008
Artwork You and me this artwork made of Watercolour and pencil on paper, created in 2008-01-01

You and me 2008
Artwork Dear Mister Mystical Man this artwork made of Ballpoint pen on paper, created in 2009-01-01

Dear Mister Mystical Man 2009
Artwork Your first love is your last love this artwork made of Lightjet print on paper, created in 2005-01-01

Your first love is your last love 2005, printed 2009
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Monoprint on paper, created in 2006-01-01

Untitled 2006
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on linen, created in 2011-01-01

Untitled 2011
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Cupola A, B, C 1989-90
Artwork Lightning for Neda this artwork made of Mirror mosaic, reverse-glass painting, plaster on wood, created in 2009-01-01

Lightning for Neda 2009
Artwork Io non ho mani che mi accarezzino il volto (There are no hands to caress my face) (Pretini 70) this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1961-01-01

Io non ho mani che mi accarezzino il volto (There are no hands to caress my face) (Pretini 70) 1961-63, printed c.1980
Artwork Io non ho mani che mi accarezzino il volto (There are no hands to caress my face) (Pretini 71) this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1961-01-01

Io non ho mani che mi accarezzino il volto (There are no hands to caress my face) (Pretini 71) 1961-63, printed c.1980
Artwork La buona terra this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1964-01-01

La buona terra 1964
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Untitled (from 'Leeka' series) 2008
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Untitled 1974, printed 2007
Artwork Mediterranean Sea (afternoon effect) 4-2-02 this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 2002-01-01

Mediterranean Sea (afternoon effect) 4-2-02 2002
Artwork Sorting IV (from 'The originality of the avant-garde and other modernist myths (former Central Post Office Rotterdam' series) this artwork made of Inkjet print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag matt paper, created in 2007-01-01

Sorting IV (from 'The originality of the avant-garde and other modernist myths (former Central Post Office Rotterdam' series) 2007
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Colour photograph mounted on aluminium, created in 2007-01-01

Untitled 2007/2008
Artwork Court records, Lubumbashi, DR Congo (from 'Avenue Patrice Lumumba' series) this artwork made of Inkjet print (Epsom Ultracrhome HDR ink) on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 300gsm paper, created in 2007-01-01

Court records, Lubumbashi, DR Congo (from 'Avenue Patrice Lumumba' series) 2007
Artwork Typing pool, Town Hall, Likasi, DR Congo (from 'Avenue Patrice Lumumba' series) this artwork made of Inkjet print (Epsom Ultracrhome HDR ink) on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 300gsm paper, created in 2007-01-01

Typing pool, Town Hall, Likasi, DR Congo (from 'Avenue Patrice Lumumba' series) 2007
Artwork Beacon (after R.G.) (from 'An unpeopled land in uncharted waters' series) this artwork made of Etching with aquatint, sugar-lift, spit-bite and dry-point on Hahnemühle Copperplate Bright White 300gsm paper, created in 2010-01-01

Beacon (after R.G.) (from 'An unpeopled land in uncharted waters' series) 2010
Artwork Buoy (from 'An unpeopled land in uncharted waters' series) this artwork made of Etching with aquatint, sugar-lift, spit-bite and dry-point on Hahnemühle Copperplate Bright White 300gsm paper, created in 2010-01-01

Buoy (from 'An unpeopled land in uncharted waters' series) 2010
Artwork Alisi Vecsey (from 'Liliu' series) this artwork made of Watercolour and collage on paper, created in 2007-01-01

Alisi Vecsey (from 'Liliu' series) 2007
Artwork Alisi Hooper (from 'Liliu' series) this artwork made of Watercolour and collage on paper, created in 2007-01-01

Alisi Hooper (from 'Liliu' series) 2007
Artwork The Count returns (from 'Liliu' series) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 2007-01-01

The Count returns (from 'Liliu' series) 2007
Artwork With Winds this artwork made of Oil on canvas, created in 1990-01-01

With Winds 1990
Artwork Sita (from 'Stories retold' series) this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint, watercolour and enamel on Mylar, created in 2002-01-01

Sita (from 'Stories retold' series) 2002
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1967-01-01

Untitled c.1972
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1967-01-01

Untitled c.1972
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1963-01-01

Untitled c.1968
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1967-01-01

Untitled c.1972
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1976-01-01

Untitled c.1981
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1976-01-01

Untitled c.1981
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1976-01-01

Untitled c.1981
Artwork Roudra (Anger) (from 'The Navarasa suite' from the 'Bombay Photo Studio' series) this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph, sepia-toned on paper, created in 2000-01-01

Roudra (Anger) (from 'The Navarasa suite' from the 'Bombay Photo Studio' series) 2000-03
Artwork Saint James, New Zealand this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1991-01-01

Saint James, New Zealand 1991
Artwork Woods III this artwork made of Wood, ashes and synthetic polymer paint, created in 1991-01-01

Woods III 1991-92
Artwork Putto David this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint and permanent marker on canvas, created in 2008-01-01

Putto David 2008
Artwork Valiant this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on metal, created in 2007-01-01

Valiant 2007
Artwork Adaptable (red/blue) this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on aircraft plywood, created in 2008-01-01

Adaptable (red/blue) 2008
Artwork Nick Cave, yoga and NYC this artwork made of Watercolour and pencil on paper, created in 2008-01-01

Nick Cave, yoga and NYC 2008
Artwork 35° C this artwork made of Watercolour and pencil on paper, created in 2008-01-01

35° C 2008
Artwork Up in the sky (portfolio) this artwork made of Photo-offset on paper, created in 1997-01-01

Up in the sky (portfolio) 1997
Artwork flight research #5 this artwork made of Type C photograph on paper, created in 1999-01-01

flight research #5 1999
Artwork Kirriwirri this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on plywood, created in 2011-01-01

Kirriwirri 2011
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Monoprint on paper, created in 2006-01-01

Untitled 2006
Artwork Hombre-semilla o el mito de lo posible (Seed man or the myth of the possible) this artwork made of Plaster, metal and wool, created in 2011-01-01

Hombre-semilla o el mito de lo posible (Seed man or the myth of the possible) 2011
Artwork The frame and what's been made within, are all made of will, there's nothing else - still this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on board, created in 2006-01-01

The frame and what's been made within, are all made of will, there's nothing else - still 2006
Artwork Io non ho mani che mi accarezzino il volto (There are no hands to caress my face) (Pretini 72) this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1961-01-01

Io non ho mani che mi accarezzino il volto (There are no hands to caress my face) (Pretini 72) 1961-63, printed c.1980
Artwork Scanno this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1957-01-01

Scanno 1957-59, printed 1985
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Gymnasium 2010
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Untitled (from 'Leeka' series) 2008