Artist Archie Moore will present at the 2024 Venice Biennale with an exhibition in the Australian Pavilion curated by Ellie Buttrose, Curator of Contemporary Australian Art at the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art. Moore is the second solo First Nations artist to present in Australia’s 25-year history of participation in the major international art event. The biennale is arguably one of the most popular and respected exhibitions on the global stage.
The artist was born in Toowoomba, Queensland and is Kamilaroi/Bigambul. Moore’s work has been included in many institutional exhibitions and his representing gallery The Commercial says the artist ‘works across media in conceptual, research-based portrayals of self and national histories.’ His past works exploring identity and family history have used evocative materials and approaches such as textiles, scent and immersive installations summoning ideas such as home, memory, and as the gallery continues ‘intercultural understanding and misunderstanding and the wider concerns of racism.’
The details of his proposed work at the Biennale have not been revealed but the artist hinted it would be connected to family history, and Moore shared ‘The opportunity show my work to an international audience is a big honour and privilege.’ The Australia Council Executive Director First Nations Arts and Culture Franchesca Cubillo noted that the Australia Council now marks 50 years of dedicated investment to First Nations arts and culture.
Buttrose said of the collaboration ‘Archie is singular in his ability to engage audiences on an emotional level through memories and familial stories in artworks that stimulate discussion about how we bear the responsibility for social change. Exhibiting at the Venice Biennale provides a timely and critical opportunity for Archie’s practice, offering an artistic outcome that will evocatively connect international audiences with the imperative act of truth-telling.’
For those of us that won’t be in Europe in Summer 2024, at the conclusion of the event in Italy, QAGOMA intends to offer an Australian presentation of the exhibition in Brisbane. In the meantime, you can view some of Moore’s select available works here, or tune in this Saturday evening 18 February at 6pm to hear the artist speak on Radio National.