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Michael Parekowhai Named as Winner for Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) Sculpture Commission

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has kicked off 5th birthday celebrations for the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) by announcing the winner of a $1 million sculpture commission and unveiling a model of the new art work.


Michael Parekowhai The World Turns (artist’s impression)

The Premier also marked the occasion by opening the children’s exhibition ‘we miss you magic land,’ by Perth artists Pip and Pop.

“It’s hard to believe that it’s been five years since GoMA opened its doors here in Brisbane,” Ms Bligh said.

“Since then more than 3.8 million people have come to the gallery to see works by some of the world’s most influential artists, like Andy Warhol, Valentino and Picasso, as well as Australian and Queensland artists.

“GoMA really has helped to transform the cultural landscape of Queensland and set a new standard for contemporary art museums in Australia.”

The Premier said she was pleased to announce internationally recognised New Zealand artist Michael Parekowhai had been selected to undertake the Premier of Queensland’s Sculpture Commission with his proposed sculpture The World Turns.

‘The commission celebrates GoMA’s fifth birthday in December this year and the 20th anniversary of the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT) next year,” she said.

“The finished sculpture, a life-sized bronze elephant tipped on its head and eye-to-eye with a kuril, the local native water rat, which gives Kurilpa Point its name, will be unveiled on the banks of the Brisbane River at GoMA’s eastern corner, at the opening of ‘The 7th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ in December 2012.”

Mr Parekowhai’s 2006 piece the The Horn of Africa is current owned by the Queensland Art Gallery and has been a popular exhibition piece at the museum. –

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