‘Still Life Now’
COLLECTION FOCUS
Oct 2022 -
Mar 2023
![Anne Noble / New Zealand b.1954 / Dead Bee Portrait #1 2015, printed 2018 / Pigment on archival paper / The Taylor Family Collection. Purchased 2019 with funds from Paul, Sue and Kate Taylor through the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation / © Anne Noble](/system/files/styles/wide/private/2024-01/2019.120_001.jpg?itok=056VkH7O)
‘Still Life Now’ considers the way artists today are drawing on the ideas of the still life tradition to create contemporary commentary on the nature of life and existence — including the memento mori (the stoic visual reminder of the inevitability of death) and the vanitas still life (the use of elaborate spreads to highlight the transience of life and excess).
By approaching the still life as a platform for transformative thinking and new conversations, the artists in ‘Still Life Now’ bring together themes of preservation, stillness, transformation and opulence across painting, sculpture and time-based media to engage with contemporary cultural and political issues and promote social change.
‘Still Life Now’ was on display at GOMA from 9 October 2022 to 12 March 2023. The exhibition was accompanied by a screening program at the Australian Cinémathèque, GOMA.
Feature image: Anne Noble / New Zealand b.1954 / Dead Bee Portrait #1 (detail) 2015, printed 2018 / Pigment on archival paper / The Taylor Family Collection. Purchased 2019 with funds from Paul, Sue and Kate Taylor through the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation / © Anne Noble
Collection artworks featured in ‘Still Life Now’
![© Chen Qiulin Artwork Garden this artwork made of SD video (DVD format), single channel projection: 14:45 minutes, stereo, colour, continuous loop, created in 2007-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2024-07/2010.002_001_still.jpg?itok=EB4Ofy1r)
Garden 2007
- CHEN Qiulin - Creator
![Marina De Caro Artwork Espera (Waiting) this artwork made of Coloured pencil, charcoal and pastel on paper, created in 2011-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2012.163_001_3.jpg?itok=2dTUwDu9)
Espera (Waiting) 2011
- De CARO, Marina - Creator
![The artist Artwork Site/Recite (a prologue) this artwork made of Videotape: 4:05 minutes, colour, stereo, created in 1989-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/1999.054_001_still_3.jpg?itok=Vb-34Nqc)
Site/Recite (a prologue) 1989
- HILL, Gary - Creator
![Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All Rights Reserved. DACS/Copyright Agency Artwork For the love of God, laugh this artwork made of Silkscreen print with glazes and diamond dust on paper, created in 2007-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2008.332_001_1.jpg?itok=9lsOa4ta)
For the love of God, laugh 2007
- HIRST, Damien - Creator
![© Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All Rights Reserved. DACS/Copyright Agency Artwork Pharmacy matches this artwork made of Matchbox with matches, created in 1997-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2010.312_001.jpg?itok=hg0uFLsM)
Pharmacy matches 1997-98
- HIRST, Damien - Creator
![Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online](/sites/default/files/styles/large/filesqagoma/assets/image-pending.jpg?itok=SDhxQrcw)
Beastliness 2011
- KELLY, Deborah - Creator
![Emily Kame Kngwarreye/Copyright Agency Artwork Yam dreaming this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, created in 1995-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/1998.071_002.jpg?itok=7aHz3QdZ)
Yam dreaming 1995
- KNGWARREYE, Emily Kame - Creator
![Emily Kame Kngwarreye/Copyright Agency Artwork Yam dreaming this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, created in 1995-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/1998.072_003.jpg?itok=jEHT7C4g)
Yam dreaming 1995
- KNGWARREYE, Emily Kame - Creator
![Emily Kame Kngwarreye/Copyright Agency Artwork Yam dreaming this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, created in 1995-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/1998.073_002.jpg?itok=b2OUev_o)
Yam dreaming 1995
- KNGWARREYE, Emily Kame - Creator
![© Kimiyo Mishima Artwork Work 19 - G this artwork made of Screenprinted and hand-coloured ceramic, iron, created in 2019-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2021.312a-w_001_4.jpg?itok=HiHXC5wj)
Work 19 - G 2019
- MISHIMA, Kimiyo - Creator
![© Kimiyo Mishima Artwork Work 21 - C4 this artwork made of Screenprinted and hand-coloured ceramic, iron, created in 2021-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2021.313a-mmmm_001_3.jpg?itok=UeWuUhWx)
Work 21 - C4 2021
- MISHIMA, Kimiyo - Creator
![Kozo Miyoshi Artwork Roots, D3 this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1987-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/1996.199_001_3.jpg?itok=SKPKCgkr)
Roots, D3 1987-90, printed 1990
- MIYOSHI, Kozo - Creator
![Dennis Oppenheim Artwork Program 1 this artwork made of Videotape: 30 minutes, black and white and colour, silent, created in 1970-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/1996.186.001_001_still_4.jpg?itok=E_F8gBET)
Program 1 1970
- OPPENHEIM, Dennis - Creator
![Marc Quinn Artwork Portraits of landscapes 01 this artwork made of Pigment print on 330gsm Somerset Velvet Enhanced paper, created in 2007-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2008.208.001_001_3.jpg?itok=ZbogWDMa)
Portraits of landscapes 01 2007
- QUINN, Marc - Creator
![Marc Quinn Artwork Portraits of landscapes 02 this artwork made of Pigment print on 330gsm Somerset Velvet Enhanced paper, created in 2007-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2008.208.002_001_3.jpg?itok=7IkGUVQY)
Portraits of landscapes 02 2007
- QUINN, Marc - Creator
![Marc Quinn Artwork Portraits of landscapes 03 this artwork made of Pigment print on 330gsm Somerset Velvet Enhanced paper, created in 2007-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2008.208.003_001_3.jpg?itok=kqJT_ELx)
Portraits of landscapes 03 2007
- QUINN, Marc - Creator
![Marc Quinn Artwork Portraits of landscapes 04 this artwork made of Pigment print on 330gsm Somerset Velvet Enhanced paper, created in 2007-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2008.208.004_001_3.jpg?itok=byJXTvng)
Portraits of landscapes 04 2007
- QUINN, Marc - Creator
![Marc Quinn Artwork Portraits of landscapes 05 this artwork made of Pigment print on 330gsm Somerset Velvet Enhanced paper, created in 2007-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2008.208.005_001_4.jpg?itok=3VKkUmIJ)
Portraits of landscapes 05 2007
- QUINN, Marc - Creator
![Marc Quinn Artwork Portraits of landscapes 06 this artwork made of Pigment print on 330gsm Somerset Velvet Enhanced paper, created in 2007-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2008.208.006_001_3.jpg?itok=fDOBTlIt)
Portraits of landscapes 06 2007
- QUINN, Marc - Creator
![The artist Artwork Portraits of landscapes 07 this artwork made of Pigment print on 330gsm Somerset Velvet Enhanced paper, created in 2007-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2008.208.007_001_4.jpg?itok=6krql0oC)
Portraits of landscapes 07 2007
- QUINN, Marc - Creator
![The artist Artwork Portraits of landscapes 08 this artwork made of Pigment print on 330gsm Somerset Velvet Enhanced paper, created in 2007-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2008.208.008_001_3.jpg?itok=2gDUDpHx)
Portraits of landscapes 08 2007
- QUINN, Marc - Creator
![© Jude Rae Artwork SL447 this artwork made of Oil on linen, created in 2021-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2021.530_001_0.jpg?itok=unjWFEw3)
SL447 2021
- RAE, Jude - Creator