Rearranged: Art of the Flower

Overview

Spring isn't the only time of year to see flowers in Brisbane, especially if you make a date with the Museum of Brisbane. Until August 2024, the King George Square venue is letting its walls and halls blossom, showcasing works that feature, celebrate and take their cues from florals. At Rearranged: Art of the Flower, expect blooming great pieces from more than 20 artists.

Running from Saturday, November 25, 2023–Sunday, September 29, 2024 and free to enter, this exhibition is filled with variety in three different ways: in the types of stems and bouquets that the talents with works on display have included in their art, the kinds of items that are in the spotlight and the rainbow of colours shining from all of the above. So, expect walls filled with pink roses, intricate still-life portraits of potted plants, stained-glass pieces, lavish fabrics and more. One commonality: exploring Brisbane's landscape and greenery across the collection.

Attendees can see paintings, textiles, sculptures, ceramics and new media works that sport plenty of petals. One big highlight: six paper arabesques measuring four metres by two metres, with Karen Stone making the flowers out of recycled garments. Another must-see involves stepping inside a room that's been decked out like a Queenslander, then filled with works by  Margaret Olley, Vida Lahey, William Bustard, Michael Zavros, Bronwyn Searle, Judith Sinnamon and others.

Surveying local names, spanning both up-and-coming and established artists alike, Rearranged: Art of the Flower visitors will spy pieces from Tony Johnson, Frank Waldo Potts, William Grant, Tony Johnson and Dorothy Thornhill as well, and also by Keith Burt, John Honeywill. Among the ceramics, Jaishree Srinivasan, Clairy Laurence and Sarah Rayner.

The full artist list spans Boneta-Marie Mabo, Man&Wah, Norton Fredericks, Pamela See (Xue Mei-Ling) and Lyndall Phelps, plus Christopher Bassi, Ashlee Becks, Elisa Jane Carmichael, Julian Podmore, Milomirka Radovic, Edith Rewa, Monica Rohan and Anna Varendorff.

As it brings Brisbane's backyards inside, the part that flowers play in Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities, linking to Country, is among the topics pondered by Rearranged: Art of the Flower. Highlighting First Nations, multicultural and queer talents is another focus.

The exhibition expands the venue's collection, too, adding 15 new acquisitions by 12 local artists to the City of Brisbane-run museum.