Contemplating Death and the After Life
The theme After life had some of the most challenging and interesting conjunction of exhibits where I appreciated the curator's intent a bit better.
'The exact dimensions of staying behind' by Ricky Swallow, 2004-5.
A horseman (Boeotian) from 6th century BCE Greece. Horse and rider figures were popular grave offerings in Boeotia during the 6th century and were probably an indication of the person's social and political status or an offering to a god.
Meanwhile in 6th century AD, a Haniwa dog from Japan. These were placed around grave mounds to mark the tombs of aristocrats. It may represent the person's real dog and be intended to protect them. This practice ceased following the introduction of Buddhism in 552.
'Still Life' by Giorgio Lucchesi, Italy,1901
'The dead goldfinch (All that was left to love)' by George Elgar Hicks, UK, 1824
Das swings unt roundabouts fur der kinder? Ja? Nein! Schweinhund! (Swings and Roundabouts for the children? Yes? No! Pigface!) Dinos Chapman 2011. Very hard to photograph and I spent far too long identifying individual scenes. The Macca's characters made it even more surreal. Apparently "this apocalyptic work addresses the darkness of the human experience by exploring emotions of horror and disgust. Must of its detail is in poor taste, revealing the black humour, irreverence and subversive wit for which artists are renowned. The psychotic rage of the MacDonald's characters symbolise the destructive excesses of capitalism, while the figurines in Nazi uniforms expose man's capacity for barbarity and violence. The work also raises the question of whether art should have a moral message".
Something a bit nicer, Arthur Boyd, 1966-68, 'Nebuchadnezzar dreaming of gold'
David Gulpilil, 'King brown snake with blue tongue lizard at Gulparil waterhole', 2013-14
So my conclusion, on balance I prefer a more traditional style where works from archaeology or a set time period or by one artist are grouped together, but it is an interesting concept.