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‘Water’
Dec 2019 - Mar 2020

Olafur Eliasson’s Riverbed 2014, installed at GOMA for ‘Water’, December 2019 / Purchased 2021. The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Charitable Trust / Collection: The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Charitable Trust, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Riverbed, Olafur Eliasson / Photograph: N Harth, QAGOMA

We evolved in water and emerged from water. We carry the ocean within. On a cellular level, our bodies move to the deep-remembered rhythms of this early environment. 

From major immersive experiences to smaller-scale treasures by Australian and international artists, ‘Water’ highlighted this precious resource and aimed to spark conversations on the environmental and social challenges faced by the world today.

‘Water’ was held across GOMA's Gallery 1.1 (The Fairfax Gallery), Gallery 1.2 & Gallery 1.3 (Eric and Marion Taylor Gallery) from 7 December 2019 to 23 March 2020. Find out more below about Collection works included in the exhibition, or visit the full ‘Water’ feature to explore the full list of works.


 

Feature image: Olafur Eliasson’s Riverbed 2014, installed at GOMA for ‘Water’, December 2019 / Purchased 2021. The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Charitable Trust / Collection: The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Charitable Trust, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Riverbed, Olafur Eliasson / Photograph: N Harth, QAGOMA

Collection artworks featured in ‘Water’

Artwork RE FORMATION this artwork made of Cast-concrete oyster shells, copper slag, created in 2016-01-01

RE FORMATION 2016-19

Artwork Giant kelp, Hasselborough Bay, Macquarie Island, Tasmania, 1984 this artwork made of Epson inkjet print on Canson Baryta Prestige paper mounted on Alupanel; printed from digital scan of original transparency, created in 1984-01-01

Giant kelp, Hasselborough Bay, Macquarie Island, Tasmania, 1984 1984, printed 2019

Artwork Riverbed this artwork made of Water, rock (volcanic stones [blue basalt, basalt, lava], other stones, gravel, sand), wood, steel, plastic sheeting, hose, pumps, created in 2014-01-01

Riverbed 2014

Artwork Infinity nets this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, created in 2000-01-01

Infinity nets 2000

Artwork Biosphere this artwork made of PVC, woven nylon rope, acrylic, air pressure regulator system, created in 2009-01-01

Biosphere 2009

Artwork Biosphere 05 cluster this artwork made of PVC, woven nylon rope, acrylic, air pressure regulator system, created in 2009-01-01

Biosphere 05 cluster 2009

Artwork Larrakitj this artwork made of Wood with white clay pigment, created in 2017-01-01

Larrakitj 2017

Artwork Narrbong (String bag) this artwork made of Rusted gauze wire with black pelican down, created in 2007-01-01

Narrbong (String bag) 2007

Artwork Coolamon (attrib. to Central/Western Queensland) this artwork made of Carved hardwood with natural pigments and synthetic polymer paint, created in 1880-01-01

Coolamon (attrib. to Central/Western Queensland) c.1880s

Artwork Coolamon (Western Queensland) this artwork made of Carved hardwood

Coolamon (Western Queensland) c.1920

Artwork Rika (Bull kelp water carrier) this artwork made of Bull kelp, ti-tree wood skewers and spun plant fibre string, created in 2019-01-01

Rika (Bull kelp water carrier) 2019

Artwork Snowman this artwork made of Ice sculpture in refrigerated vitrine, created in 1987-01-01

Snowman 1987/2017-19

Artwork South Cape Rivulet, southwest Tasmania, 1990 this artwork made of Epson inkjet print on Canson Baryta Prestige paper mounted on Alupanel; printed from digital scan of original transparency, created in 1990-01-01

South Cape Rivulet, southwest Tasmania, 1990 1990, printed 2019

Artwork Milngurr this artwork made of Enamel paint on aluminium composite board (Alupanel), created in 2018-01-01

Milngurr 2018

Artwork Biosphere this artwork made of Woven nylon rope, acrylic, created in 2009-01-01

Biosphere 2009

Artwork Circle this artwork made of Digital video, Quicktime file, 4:3: colour, 40 seconds, ed. 2/5 Commissioned by Fondation Cartier, Paris, created in 2009-01-01

Circle 2009

Artwork Larrakitj this artwork made of Wood with white clay pigment, created in 2017-01-01

Larrakitj 2017

Artwork Narrbong (String bag) this artwork made of Rusted gauze wire with galah feathers and pelican down, created in 2007-01-01

Narrbong (String bag) 2007

Artwork Coolamon (Far Western Queensland/Northern Territory) this artwork made of Carved and incised softwood with natural pigments and natural resin, created in 1920-01-01

Coolamon (Far Western Queensland/Northern Territory) c.1920s

Artwork Green maireener necklace this artwork made of Green maireener shells threaded with double strength quilting thread, created in 2007-01-01

Green maireener necklace 2007

Artwork Cloud Canyons No.25 this artwork made of Plexiglass tubing, motor pumps, water, detergent, created in 1963-01-01

Cloud Canyons No.25 1963/2015

Artwork Morning mist, Rock Island Bend, Franklin River, 1979 this artwork made of Epson inkjet print on Canson Baryta Prestige paper mounted on Alupanel; printed from digital scan of original transparency, created in 1979-01-01

Morning mist, Rock Island Bend, Franklin River, 1979 1979, printed 2019

Artwork Heritage this artwork made of 99 life-sized replicas of animals: polystyrene, gauze, resin and hide, created in 2013-01-01

Heritage 2013

Artwork Contingent this artwork made of Digital Betacam, DVD and Quicktime file on media player: 10:30 minutes, colour, silent, created in 2008-01-01

Contingent 2008

Artwork Biosphere 02 this artwork made of PVC, woven nylon rope, nylon monofilament, acrylic, Tillandsia plants, air pressure regulator system, hydration system, created in 2009-01-01

Biosphere 02 2009

Artwork Wawurritjpal (Larrakitj) this artwork made of Wood with natural pigments, created in 2017-01-01

Wawurritjpal (Larrakitj) 2017

Artwork Narrbong (String bag) this artwork made of Rusted gauze wire with white pelican down, created in 2007-01-01

Narrbong (String bag) 2007

Artwork Narrbong (String bag) this artwork made of Rusted gauze wire with echidna quills, created in 2007-01-01

Narrbong (String bag) 2007

Artwork Coolamon (Western Queensland) this artwork made of Carved hardwood

Coolamon (Western Queensland) c.1920

Artwork Rika (Bull kelp water carrier) this artwork made of Bull kelp, ti-tree wood skewers and spun plant fibre string, created in 2019-01-01

Rika (Bull kelp water carrier) 2019

Related digital stories

A still photograph of a masculine-appearing person making a splash in dark, almost black water (DETAIL)

WATER

2019–20