Opening on March 26, SAM will be the first venue to display the Australian War Memorial’s exhibition, Art in Conflict.
Showcasing the works of official war artists and contemporary artists who respond to conflict, the exhibition explores how art could deepen the understanding of Australia’s experience of conflict, giving perspective on global issues through a local lens.
“The Goulburn Valley has a rich military history, with World War II internment and PoW camps in Murchison and the Mooroopna war memorial acknowledging the service of Aboriginal soldiers in global conflicts,” SAM’s acting artistic director and senior curator Shelley McSpedden said.
“Shepparton and surrounding areas are home to many families fleeing war-torn countries both now and post World War II.
“Art in Conflict is an opportunity for the Shepparton Art Museum to connect with local histories that make this region unique, and for the community to gather and reflect on these histories.”
The exhibition sees three recently-commissioned bodies of work by the Australian War Memorial, two by official war artists Megan Cope and Susan Norrie and one by video artist Angelica Mesiti.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of public programs, including a community forum, artist talks and curatorial floor talks.
Also opening on Saturday, March 26, is SAM’s next window commission by acclaimed Pakistani-born, Melbourne-based artist Nusra Latif Qureshi, presenting The Land I See Is Not Elsewhere.
The exhibition questions the histories and legacies of painting and representation of land in Australia, as much as it pays tribute to the local landscape.
Trained in Mughal miniature painting in Lahore, Pakistan, the artist has a rich and contemporary visual language that encompasses mediums from delicate paintings to large-scale digital prints.
Along with the national exhibitions, SAM Open 2022 will bring faces of the region to the museum’s walls.
This annual all-ages exhibition celebrates and showcases the creativity of artists in northern Victoria.
Curated from an open call, the theme for this year’s exhibition is ‘New Horizons’ – a beacon of hope after the challenges of the past two years.
“Having a new dedicated community gallery space at SAM reflects our commitment to giving our wonderful and talented local creatives a place to continually share their work locally and to connect with audiences nationally,” SAM exhibitions curator Jessica O’Farrell said.
“By setting the theme of New Horizons, we wanted to mark this moment of opportunity for local artists to present their work in this fantastic new museum.”
For more information, visit https://sheppartonartmuseum.com.au
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