An exhibition surveying the sculptural works by Sydney-based artist Linde Ivimey opens at The University of Queensland Art Museum, St Lucia on November 3.
If Pain Persists: Linde Ivimey Sculpture showcases key sculptures produced over the past decade, including recent works commemorating Sir Douglas Mawson’s Antarctic expedition.
“This new survey exhibition will demonstrate how Linde Ivimey’s work has developed since her first major exhibition at Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne, in 2003,” UQ Art Museum Director Dr Campbell Gray said.
“With their crude fibre stuffing, coarse hessian clothing and body parts and armature made from animal bones, Ivimey’s figures contain a sense of the underworld – of mystical forces outside our comprehension,” he said.
Ms Ivimey’s sculpture is often technically complex and intricate, utilising skills from welding to cooking, weaving, wood-sculpting, and sewing, all adapted to create objects with an intense personal resonance.
The emotional impact of her figures and animals is multiplied by her use of materials – skin, bone, fabric, hair, wax, gemstones, teeth, and other personal and found objects.
Exhibition themes include “Saints and sinners”, which explores Ms Ivimey’s interests in Jewish and Christian stories, including the Old Testament.
“Child’s play” deals with subjects of birth, childhood, adolescence, and the way knowledge is passed between generations; and “Self-portraits” notes the influence of personal appearance on identity and self-esteem.
Ms Ivimey’s recent series “Ice Warriors” was inspired by her journey to Antarctica on the Orion in December 2011 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Sir Douglas Mawson’s ill-fated expedition to Antarctica.
Ms Ivimey said the works had a chronology and were used very much as a diary.
“They are a way of reconciling what has been happening with me, my body, my life,” she said.
The first major publication on the artist’s work, entitled Linde Ivimey and authored by exhibition curator Louise Martin-Chew, will be launched with the exhibition.
Ms Martin-Chew writes a frank account of the difficulties that the artist has experienced, including, in recent years, illness, divorce and relocation to Sydney.
“Like her creations, Linde Ivimey’s artistic genesis has been unusual, a path strewn with difficulties,” Ms Martin-Chew said.
“In many ways her oeuvre may be seen as a self portrait – in parallel, the book and exhibition examine how her life is expressed in her work,” she said.
The exhibition is to be opened by the Australian Commissioner of the 2013 Venice Biennale, Chairman of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, and Philanthropist, Mr Simon Mordant AM.
If Pain Persists: Linde Ivimey Sculpture continues at UQ Art Museum until March 24, 2013. An exhibition of selected works will then travel to the Cairns Regional Gallery, and will be on display from April, 26 to June 28, 2013.
More information on the exhibition is available here.
PUBLIC PROGRAM:
Friday November 2, 5.00pm – 6.00pm
Everyone is welcome to join artist Linde Ivimey, curator Louise Martin-Chew and gallerist Martin Browne for a conversation about self-portraiture and other aspects of Linde Ivimey's sculpture prior to the official opening. Free event.
MEDIA IMAGES:
Download high res images for print here
Download low res images for web here
By downloading the media images you are agreeing to accept the conditions outlined below.
CONDITIONS:
Images on this media site are available for promoting and reviewing the above exhibition under the ‘fair dealing' provision of the Copyright Act 1968 and its subsequent amendments.
The UQ Art Museum does not authorise any actions that will infringe the copyright or moral rights of the artist.
MEDIA INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOGRAPHS:
Linde Ivimey will be available for interviews and photographs at the UQ Art Museum on Friday, November 2 between 11am and 12pm.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Louise Martin-Chew
Associate Curator (Linde Ivimey survey exhibition), UQ Art Museum
0418 267 197
lmc@arthouse.net.au
Michele Helmrich
Associate Director (Curatorial), UQ Art Museum
[Note: contact up to 2 November only]
+61 7 3346 8759
0418 754 983
m.helmrich@uq.edu.au
Sebastian Moody
Special Projects Officer, UQ Art Museum
[Note: Monday to Thursday only]
+61 7 3346 8761
0419 789 006
s.moody@uq.edu.au
(Monday – Thursday)
