Water

GOMA HAS CLOSED AS OF MONDAY MARCH 21st DUE TO GOVERNMENT COVID-19 REGULATIONS.

Water is this summer's must-see major themed exhibition showing at the Gallery of Modern Art until April 26.

Taking over the entire ground floor of GOMA, this massive exhibition features more than 40 works by leading international and Australian artists; from large-scale immersive experiences to smaller-scale treasures. It highlights one of life’s most vital elements and aims to spark conversations about the environmental and the social challenges we face.

A highlight of the exhibition is the gallery's recently acquired major artwork Snowman, the work of leading contemporary artists Peter Fischli and David Weiss. A long way from its Swiss origins, Snowman will be shown for the first time in the Southern hemisphere when it premieres as part of Water.  A unique and comical sight in subtropical Queensland, this frosty figure is safely preserved in the glass and metal confines of his industrial freezer. It's anticipated that Snowman will become a much-loved favourite with visitors this summer, just as it was at The Museum of Modern Art, New York and San Francisco MOMA.

In addition to Snowman, visitors will be able to see life-sized animals from around the world drink together at Cai Guo-Qiang’s memorable, much-loved installation Heritage 2013. Inspired by the clear blue lakes of Queensland’s Stradbroke Island, the work will appear in a new arrangement with over 40 animals gathering around a bright blue waterhole. 

Walk across Olafur Eliasson’s vast Riverbed 2014 landscape featuring more than 110 tonnes of rock, and traverse a cloud of suspended gymnastic rings in William Forsythe's participatory artwork The Fact of Matter 2009. 

Queensland artist Judy Watson, known for the liquid beauty of her expansive paintings, has created a major new work for this fascinating exhibition. Wanami 2019 reflects on the cultural traditions of bodies of water, including the Brisbane River (Maiwar); while German-born Australian artist Vera Möller evokes the endless invention of nature and the fragility of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem with her vibrant, coral-like installation​​​ Vestibulia 2019.

Water will be accompanied by a public program of exhibition tours, artist talks and special events; including daily guided tours at 11am (*commencing December 9) and Water Sundays event days offering tours for kids, talks, hands-on workshops, and more.  Plus, Up Late returns for 2 massive nights on Friday, March 20 and Saturday,  March 21. Tickets go on sale and line-up will be announced in December. 

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