GIPPSLAND Art Gallery is seeking help from the public to source two artworks by world-renowned Sale-based textile artist Annemieke Mein OAM in the lead up to her much-anticipated retrospective exhibition, to be held at the Gallery in 2024.
A Life’s Work will be the most comprehensive collection of works ever assembled by Annemieke Mein; however, the whereabouts of two artworks, Butterfly Extravaganza and Cocoon Extravaganza, is not known.
Both artworks were created in 1990 in aid of the Sale Regional Arts Centre’s fundraising exhibition and auction for its new building fund, which was held at ’42nd Chateau’, the gallery then run by Ann and Geoff Hines in the former Cowwarr butter factory, from August 18 to September 8. The works were two of 271 that were donated for the appeal, and both were sold to ‘buyers unknown’.
Butterfly Extravaganza is 116cm wide, and captures a kaleidoscope of butterflies in full flight, fluttering towards the horizon line. The image here is the only known photograph of the work, taken by Annemieke the night before it was delivered to the exhibition. Sadly, there is no known photograph of Cocoon Extravaganza.
Both works were likely sold to local buyers, thirty-three years ago. Perhaps you own, or have seen one or both of these stunning pieces since then? If so, the Gallery would love to hear from you to help us create the most complete exhibition of Annemieke’s work yet seen.
A Life’s Work will be staged at Gippsland Art Gallery from March 2 to May 26, 2024. Coinciding with Annemieke’s 80th birthday, the unique exhibition will pay tribute to this greatly loved textile artist, who has inspired and influenced vast audiences over many decades. Drawing together over 200 original artworks created over a sixty-year period, from private and public collections nationwide (some of which have never been exhibited), this unforgettable retrospective will explore all facets of Mein’s life and career.
The exhibition will span from Annemieke’s first experiments with textile in the 1960s, through to the masterworks from the 1980s that catapulted her to international acclaim. It will also showcase the full range of Annemieke’s artmaking with three-dimensional sculptural works, drawings, sketches and bas-relief bronzes presented alongside the extraordinary wall-based relief textiles that established her reputation, in which the objects are given sculptural form and appear to project forward from the surface of the canvas.
A Life’s Work will coincide with the publication of a new book on Annemieke Mein – the first since 1992’s The Art of Annemieke Mein: Wildlife Artist in Textiles, which has sold close to half a million copies worldwide – together with a complete range of new merchandise. The book, of the same name as the exhibition, will provide a comprehensive overview of her work, with contributions from sixteen writers who will explore every facet of her life and career.
Tickets for this exhibition will go on sale in October 2023, and will be available exclusively from www.gippslandartgallery.com
To be kept informed about this exciting exhibition art lovers are encouraged to join the Gallery’s Enews List via the website, or email the Gallery at annemieke@wellington.vic.gov.au
