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‘Watercolour in Queensland’
Mar 2014 - Jul 2014

 Kenneth Macqueen / Australia NSW 1897 - 1960 / Harvesting scene (detail) c.1956 / Watercolour over pencil on wove paper / Purchased 1956 / Collection: QAGOMA / © QAGOMA / A watercolour landscape depicting rolling fields in shades of green and yellow, with hills in the background shadowed by clouds.

‘Transparent: Watercolour in Queensland 1850s–1980s’ demonstrates the enduring appeal of watercolour as a medium with 150 works from the Gallery's Collection. Used by early settlers to depict the landscape, by later artists to evoke the growing city of Brisbane and by wartime artists to record daily activities, watercolour is portable and adaptable, perfect for capturing quick impressions.

The exhibition follows the early colonial era and late nineteenth century into modern developments in the early twentieth century, the challenges of World War Two, and the development of a local strain of expressionism, while Joe Rootsey’s watercolours showed the powerful connection of Aboriginal Australians with the land. Other artists featured in this exhibition include Conrad Martens, Harriet Jane Neville-Rolfe, JJ Hilder, Vida Lahey, Kenneth Macqueen, WG Grant and Joy Roggenkamp.

‘Transparent’ presents the first comprehensive survey of the Gallery's watercolour collection, bringing to light many never before displayed works from the mid nineteenth century to the 1980s. The beautifully illustrated publication includes a curatorial overview of the artworks, a conservator's insight into fine artist papers and biographical notes on the artists.

‘Transparent: Watercolour in Queensland 1850s–1980s’ was on display at QAG from 22 March to 20 July 2014.



Feature image: Kenneth Macqueen / Australia NSW 1897–1960 / Harvesting scene (detail) c.1956 / Watercolour over pencil on wove paper / Purchased 1956 / Collection: QAGOMA / © QAGOMA

Collection artworks featured in ‘Watercolour in Queensland’

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