Matisse Alive

Overview

After more than three months devoid of art galleries, the Art Gallery of New South Wales is helping Sydneysider's get their art fix in a big way with two massive exhibitions running in conjunction.

Ticketed exhibition Matisse: Life & Spirit, Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou, Paris is set to begin on Monday, November 22, but in the meantime you can head to the inner-city gallery and experience its free companion Matisse Alive.

Running Saturday, October 23–Sunday, April 3, Matisse Alive is a showcase of four new projects that have been influenced by visionary Henri Matisse. The exhibition will celebrate Matisse through art, music and performance that presents a modern perspective on his artistry.

The four artists on display are New York's Nina Chanel Abney and multimedia artist Sally Smart, plus Angela Tiatia and Robin White who's work will explore the relationship between Matisse and the pacific.

"We are excited to turn our attention to community and culture with the stunning display of new, and older treasured, tivaevae created by hand, by women from our region," AGNSW special exhibitions curator Jackie Dunn says. "These vibrant works, selected with guest curator Mereana Taruia, celebrate Matisse's strong connection to tivaevae and other Pacific textile traditions, which profoundly influenced his late great works, the cut-outs."

Accompanying the artworks by Abneym Smart, Tiatia and White, more than 70 works from the AGNSW collection that take inspiration from the work of Matisse will be on display.

Those looking to learn more about the exhibition can head to the In the Frame online talk with Smart and White on Tuesday, November 30, or tivaevae demonstrations and weaving workshops that will be led by Sione Falemaka throughout summer. Plus, you can pop down after work on either Wednesday, January 12 or 19 for Art After Hours: Matisse Alive which will see the gallery remain open until 9pm.

Images: Matisse Alive featuring works from Angela Tiatia, Sally Smart, Robin White and Nina Chanel Abney, Art Gallery of New South Wales, by Diana Panuccio