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‘Birds of Passage’
COLLECTION FOCUS: Fairweather and Jacoulet
Feb 2024 - Jan 2026

Paul Jacoulet / France 1896–1960 / Les perles (The pearls), Manchukuo (detail) 1950 / Purchased 2021 with funds from the Airey Family through the QAGOMA Foundation / © Paul Jacoulet/ADAGP/Copyright Agency

Migratory birds travel across the globe; they are known as ‘birds of passage’, an expression that can also be applied to people. For artists Ian Fairweather and Paul Jacoulet, their journeys across Asia and the Pacific influenced both the content of their work and their ways of making.

This display illustrates the influence of travel and cross-cultural experience on their respective works. Fairweather had a deep knowledge of Chinese art, while Jacoulet was committed to the craft of Japanese woodblock printmaking, and these qualities allowed both artists to act as a bridge between cultures.

‘Birds of Passage: Ian Fairweather and Paul Jacoulet’ is on display in QAG’s Galleries 7 and 9 (Philip Bacon Galleries) from 24 February 2024 to 26 January 2026.

‘Birds of Passage’ is a rotating exhibition; not all of the Collection works below will be on display simultaneously. Learn more on the QAGOMA Blog.


Feature image: Paul Jacoulet / France 1896–1960 / Les perles (The pearls), Manchukuo (detail) 1950 / Purchased 2021 with funds from the Airey Family through the QAGOMA Foundation / © Paul Jacoulet/ADAGP/Copyright Agency

Collection artworks featured in ‘Birds of Passage’

Artwork Faces at the window this artwork made of Oil, gouache and pencil on paper on cardboard on composition board, created in 1933-01-01

Faces at the window 1933

Artwork (Mountain gorge with snow-capped range in the distance) this artwork made of Watercolour on smooth cardboard, created in 1914-01-01

(Mountain gorge with snow-capped range in the distance) c.1924

Artwork Untitled (bust-length sketch of a man; pendant sketch of a female head) this artwork made of Pencil on thick buff wove paper, created in 1914-01-01

Untitled (bust-length sketch of a man; pendant sketch of a female head) c.1914-17

Artwork Untitled (A Japanese girl with flowers in a landscape with a footbridge; two Japanese girls) this artwork made of Pencil on buff wove paper, created in 1915-01-01

Untitled (A Japanese girl with flowers in a landscape with a footbridge; two Japanese girls) c.1915-17

Artwork (Church interior with female figure) this artwork made of Pencil, watercolour, gouache and ink on grey laid paper, created in 1916-01-01

(Church interior with female figure) c.1916-18

Artwork Untitled (sketch of a standing nude male figure) this artwork made of Pencil on thick cream wove paper, created in 1920-01-01

Untitled (sketch of a standing nude male figure) c.1920-24

Artwork Untitled (sketch of a standing nude male figure, with hands clasped behind head) this artwork made of Pencil, crayon and opaque white on thick cream wove paper, created in 1920-01-01

Untitled (sketch of a standing nude male figure, with hands clasped behind head) 1920-24

Artwork Untitled (head of a boy) this artwork made of Pen and ink, pencil, blue and grey washes and traces of blue crayon on thick buff wove paper, created in 1920-01-01

Untitled (head of a boy) 1920-24

Artwork (Cèzannesque village landscape) this artwork made of Watercolour and coloured crayons on thick rough cream wove paper, created in 1920-01-01

(Cèzannesque village landscape) c.1920-23

Artwork Two nudes this artwork made of Oil on cardboard, created in 1934-01-01

Two nudes 1934

Artwork Sea shells this artwork made of Gouache on paper, created in 1950-01-01

Sea shells 1950

Artwork Chagrins d'Amour, Kusaie, Est Carolines (Sorrows of love, Kusaie, East Carolines) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1940-01-01

Chagrins d'Amour, Kusaie, Est Carolines (Sorrows of love, Kusaie, East Carolines) 1940

Artwork Fumées de Santal. Mandchoukuo (Sandalwood smoke. Manchukuo) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1948-01-01

Fumées de Santal. Mandchoukuo (Sandalwood smoke. Manchukuo) 1948

Artwork Préparatifs pour l'hiver. Pusan. Corée (Preparations for the winter. Pusan. Korea) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1951-01-01

Préparatifs pour l'hiver. Pusan. Corée (Preparations for the winter. Pusan. Korea) 1951

Artwork Aprés la danse. Célébes (After the dance. Celebes), [Sulawesi, Indonesia] this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1940-01-01

Aprés la danse. Célébes (After the dance. Celebes), [Sulawesi, Indonesia] 1940

Artwork Le nouvelle robe. Metalanim, Ponape (The new dress. Metalanim, Ponape), [Pohnpei, East Caroline Islands, Federated States of Micronesia] this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1938-01-01

Le nouvelle robe. Metalanim, Ponape (The new dress. Metalanim, Ponape), [Pohnpei, East Caroline Islands, Federated States of Micronesia] 1938

Artwork Les paradisiers. Menado. Célébes (Birds of Paradise. Menado. Celebes), [Sulawesi, Indonesia] this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1937-01-01

Les paradisiers. Menado. Célébes (Birds of Paradise. Menado. Celebes), [Sulawesi, Indonesia] 1937

Artwork La perruche morte. Célébes (The dead parakeet. Celebes), [Sulawesi, Indonesia] this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1948-01-01

La perruche morte. Célébes (The dead parakeet. Celebes), [Sulawesi, Indonesia] 1948

Artwork Femme tatouée de Falalap. Ouest Carolines (Tattooed woman of Falalap. West Carolines) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1935-01-01

Femme tatouée de Falalap. Ouest Carolines (Tattooed woman of Falalap. West Carolines) 1935

Artwork Les joueurs. Chinois (The gamblers. Chinese.) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1941-01-01

Les joueurs. Chinois (The gamblers. Chinese.) 1941

Artwork Souvenirs d'autrefois. Japon (Memories of the past. Japan) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1941-01-01

Souvenirs d'autrefois. Japon (Memories of the past. Japan) 1941

Artwork (Dutch canal scene) this artwork made of Oil on cardboard, created in 1918-01-01

(Dutch canal scene) 1918

Artwork The Subaltern's shed, Torgau this artwork made of Watercolour, ink and gouache over pencil on thick cream wove paper, created in 1914-01-01

The Subaltern's shed, Torgau c.1914-17

Artwork Untitled (bust-length sketch of a soldier) this artwork made of Pencil on thick wove paper, created in 1914-01-01

Untitled (bust-length sketch of a soldier) c.1914-17

Artwork Untitled (guards and prisoners in an exercise yard - prisoner of war magazine illustration) this artwork made of Pen and brush and ink, grey wash over pencil on cream wove paper, created in 1914-01-01

Untitled (guards and prisoners in an exercise yard - prisoner of war magazine illustration) c.1914-17

Artwork (Head of a girl, possibly the artist's sister, with a scarf and tam-o-shanter) this artwork made of Watercolour and gouache over pencil on thick buff wove paper, created in 1915-01-01

(Head of a girl, possibly the artist's sister, with a scarf and tam-o-shanter) c.1915-18

Artwork Untitled (sketch of seated nude female figure) this artwork made of Pencil on thick cream wove paper, created in 1920-01-01

Untitled (sketch of seated nude female figure) 1920-24

Artwork Untitled (sleeping figure, female) this artwork made of Pencil, gouache, coloured crayons and traces of red ink on thick cream wove paper, created in 1920-01-01

Untitled (sleeping figure, female) 1920-24

Artwork Untitled (sketch of a youth's head; sketch of a crouching figure) this artwork made of Pen and brush and blue-black and red ink on thin cream wove paper, created in 1920-01-01

Untitled (sketch of a youth's head; sketch of a crouching figure) 1920-24

Artwork Balinese figures (study) this artwork made of Pen and ink and gouache on cardboard, created in 1949-01-01

Balinese figures (study) 1949

Artwork Kite flying this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint and gouache on cardboard laid down on composition board, created in 1958-01-01

Kite flying 1958

Artwork (Snake charmer) this artwork made of Gouache, ink and watercolour on paper

(Snake charmer) c.1949

Artwork Musician this artwork made of Gouache on paper laid on board, created in 1951-01-01

Musician 1951

Artwork Fleurs du Soir. Toloas. Truck (Evening flowers. Toloas. Truk) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1941-01-01

Fleurs du Soir. Toloas. Truck (Evening flowers. Toloas. Truk) 1941

Artwork Les deux adversaires. Corée (gauche) (The two adversaries. Korea. (left)) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1950-01-01

Les deux adversaires. Corée (gauche) (The two adversaries. Korea. (left)) 1950

Artwork Les deux adversaires. Corée (droite) (The two adversaries. Korea. (right)) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1950-01-01

Les deux adversaires. Corée (droite) (The two adversaries. Korea. (right)) 1950

Artwork Cactus. Mer du Sud (Cactus. South Seas) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1941-01-01

Cactus. Mer du Sud (Cactus. South Seas) 1941

Artwork Joaquina et sa mère au sermon du Père Pons. Rota. Mariannes (Joaquina and her mother at the sermon by Father Pons. Rota. Mariannes) [Northern Mariana Islands] this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1947-01-01

Joaquina et sa mère au sermon du Père Pons. Rota. Mariannes (Joaquina and her mother at the sermon by Father Pons. Rota. Mariannes) [Northern Mariana Islands] 1947

Artwork Une belle de Palaos (A beauty of Palao), [Palau Islands] this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1935-01-01

Une belle de Palaos (A beauty of Palao), [Palau Islands] 1935

Artwork La fille du chef, Mogomog (The chief's daughter, Mogomog) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1953-01-01

La fille du chef, Mogomog (The chief's daughter, Mogomog) 1953

Artwork La chenille verte. Coree (The green caterpillar. Korea.) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1936-01-01

La chenille verte. Coree (The green caterpillar. Korea.) 1936

Artwork Le Mandarin aux lunettes. Mandchoukuo (The Mandarin with glasses. Manchukuo) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper

Le Mandarin aux lunettes. Mandchoukuo (The Mandarin with glasses. Manchukuo) 1950

Artwork (Landscape at sunset; a track over a forested hill and village beyond) this artwork made of Watercolour and gouache over pencil on thick wove paper, created in 1914-01-01

(Landscape at sunset; a track over a forested hill and village beyond) c.1914-23

Artwork Herr Braun's canteen, Torgau this artwork made of Watercolour and ink over pencil on thick cream wove paper, created in 1914-01-01

Herr Braun's canteen, Torgau c.1914-17

Artwork Untitled (prisoners in an exercise yard - prisoner of war magazine illustration) this artwork made of Pen and brush and ink, grey wash over pencil on cream wove paper, created in 1914-01-01

Untitled (prisoners in an exercise yard - prisoner of war magazine illustration) c.1914-17

Artwork Untitled (A Japanese girl in a landscape with a footbridge) this artwork made of Pencil on buff wove paper, created in 1915-01-01

Untitled (A Japanese girl in a landscape with a footbridge) c.1915-17

Artwork Barges near The Hague this artwork made of Watercolour and opaque white over crayon on thick rough wove paper, created in 1918-01-01

Barges near The Hague 1918

Artwork Untitled (sketch of a standing nude female figure) this artwork made of Pencil on thick cream wove paper, created in 1920-01-01

Untitled (sketch of a standing nude female figure) 1920-24

Artwork Untitled (sketch of two figures suggesting movement) this artwork made of Black, white and pink pastels on thick cream wove paper, created in 1920-01-01

Untitled (sketch of two figures suggesting movement) 1920-24

Artwork Untitled (figures in a park) this artwork made of Crayon and watercolour washes on thick rough cream wove paper, created in 1920-01-01

Untitled (figures in a park) c.1925

Artwork Two Philippine children this artwork made of Oil and pencil on cardboard, created in 1934-01-01

Two Philippine children 1934-35

Artwork Coolie this artwork made of Gouache on paper

Coolie c.1949

Artwork L'Etoile de Gobi, Mongole (The star of Gobi, Mongolia) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1951-01-01

L'Etoile de Gobi, Mongole (The star of Gobi, Mongolia) 1951

Artwork Retour de la jungle, Tondano, Célébes (Return from the jungle, Tondano, Celebes) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1948-01-01

Retour de la jungle, Tondano, Célébes (Return from the jungle, Tondano, Celebes) 1948

Artwork Le betel (The betel nut boy), Yap this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1940-01-01

Le betel (The betel nut boy), Yap 1940

Artwork Les perles, Mandchoukuo (The pearls, Manchukuo) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1950-01-01

Les perles, Mandchoukuo (The pearls, Manchukuo) 1950

Artwork Homme de Menado et mangoustans. Célébes (Menado man and mangosteen. Celebes), [Sulawesi, Indonesia] this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1935-01-01

Homme de Menado et mangoustans. Célébes (Menado man and mangosteen. Celebes), [Sulawesi, Indonesia] 1935

Artwork Le trésor. Coree (The treasure. Korea) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1940-01-01

Le trésor. Coree (The treasure. Korea) 1940

Artwork Les deux frères. Izu. Japon (The two brothers. Izu. Japan) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1936-01-01

Les deux frères. Izu. Japon (The two brothers. Izu. Japan) 1936

Artwork Une averse a Métalanim. Ponape, Est Carolines (A downpour at Metalanim. Ponape, East Carolines) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1935-01-01

Une averse a Métalanim. Ponape, Est Carolines (A downpour at Metalanim. Ponape, East Carolines) 1935

Artwork Amoureux à Tarang. Yap. Ouest Carolines (Lovers of Tarang. Yap. West Carolines.) this artwork made of Colour woodblock print on PJ watermarked paper, created in 1935-01-01

Amoureux à Tarang. Yap. Ouest Carolines (Lovers of Tarang. Yap. West Carolines.) 1935