Celebrating female power through the ages, Feared and Revered examines the diversity of spiritual females from cultures across the globe. Located at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, until 27 August 2023, the exhibition has over 160 objects from the British Museum. There is also a section on Australian Indigenous female ancestral figures.
What’s on Display
With artifacts from six continents covering 5,000 years, the variety of items on display is impressive. If you like ancient history or archaeology, you will love this exhibition, because of its diversity. Not only does it cover the usual Egyptian and Greek periods, but includes China, India, South America and the Pacific.
We found the statues from the Middle East were great, with Ishtar, Sekhmet and Isis all represented. Greek and Roman culture was covered by Amphorae decorated with Persephone and statues of Hecate, Athena and Demeter. Medusa was also present in a small carving.
The statues from India and Mexico were ones we had not seen before, along with the masks from the far east and South America.
If you are in Canberra before August 2023 this is a great exhibition. We were very pleased that we went along.
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Yawkyawk – Northern Territory AustraliaKubaba Turkey 1000-800 BCESekhmet from Egypt 1391-1353 BCEIsis and Osiris Egypt 590-530 BCE / Isis and Horus 400-300 BCEIshtar Iraq 1750 BCEDemeter – Athens Greece 100-200 CEHekate Rome 161-200 CESekhmet from Egypt 1391-1353 BCEAphrodite 200 BCEMinerva Rome Italy 1-160 CE (after a Greek Original of Athena 400 BCE)Persephone’s Return – Athens Greece 510-500 BCEParvati India 900-1000 CEVishnu-Varaha with Bhudevi – Odisha India 1200-1300 BCEKali India 2021Taraka dance mask from the Indian workshop of Sri KajalRangda mask, Bali, Indonesia, about 1950 BCChihuateto Mexica 1400-1521 CEBodhisattva Guanyin China after 1260 CEChina Supay Bolivia before 1985 CEMoai papa – Rapa NuiThe Virgin of Guadalupe 1980-89 CE
The Art Gallery of NSW new North Building displays contemporary art, with an emphasis on Indigenous Australian art. The building reflects this with bright well lit rooms and colourful displays. A highlight is the use of its basement, an old storage tank as a display space.
Getting There
Located, to the north of the original Art Gallery (now the South Building), it’s walkable from the Sydney CBD. We used the train from Central Station, getting off at St. James and walking, although buses can also be used. If you drive, the Domain carpark would be the closest option.
Arriving before opening time, we took some photos of the giant sculptures outside and then had a coffee at the café opposite the entrance.
Inside
With four levels, there is plenty of space to display artworks. The ground floor has an amazing display of Indigenous art and its great that this is the first gallery you see on entering. Previously displayed at the South Building the collection now has pride of place at the entrance.
The next two levels down display a series of contemporary art in addition to having access to outside galleries. Here we found an amazing flower sculpture, as well as a Buddhist Temple.
Lower Level 4 – The Tank
The highlight though was The Tank. Level 4 used to be an underground oil storage tank, but has been repurposed as an art space. Access is via a spiral staircase, which you descend into increasing darkness. Left deliberately dark, with the original columns still in place, it’s eerie, with lights moving on the ceiling, slowly brightening and dimming to highlight the sculptures there.
Before entering, you are warned that the area is dark and claustrophobic, so that you know what to expect. Numerous staff patrol the space, ensuring everyone obeys the rules (no flash photos) and remains safe.
We loved it, the sculptures were unworldly and the empty spaces and columns eerie.
Here Comes Everybody by Francis UpritchardHere Comes Everybody by Francis UpritchardLevel 1Untitled by Frank StellaKu (dogs)Seven Sisters by Nyunmiti BurtonDhamala Story by David Malangi DaymirringuDeath Zephyr by Yhonnie ScarceJapan Supernatural: Vertiginous After Staring at the Empty World Too Intensely, I Found Myself Trapped in the Realm of Lurking Ghosts and Monsters by Takashi Murakami Banners From The Lot by Eko NugrohoThree Paintings by John Prince Siddonby Ramesh Mario NithiyendranAntara by Betty Kuntiwa PumaniGuts (2022) by Samara GoldenFlowers that Bloom in the Cosmos by Yayoi KusamaSculpture GardenThe End of Imagination by Adrian Villar RojasThe End of Imagination by Adrian Villar RojasThe TankIn the Tank – The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar RojasThe End of Imagination by Adrian Villar RojasThe End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Housing the Port Macquarie Theatre, Regional Art Gallery and Visitor Information Centre, the Glasshouse Arts and Visitor Centre is a great place to visit, because not only does it have these things, but there are ruins in the basement!
If you want to find out what to see and do, or find accommodation, this is the place to go. The staff are super friendly and helpful and do their best to help you out.
In the basement, original foundations from the previous building in the area have been preserved. Other artifacts found during excavation are also on display.
Displayed in the foyer are PK Sparkles and Lady Lola the Dancing Koala from the Hello Koala Sculpture Trail. If you’re following the trail to see the koalas you get to see two in one location.
Behind the koalas the Regional Art Gallery had some interesting artworks on display. They feature a range of contemporary, indigenous, historical, traditional, design and sculptural artworks. During the course of the year, they rotate up to 20 exhibitions through the gallery, including touring exhibitions.
PK SparklesLady Lola the Dancing KoalaBotanical Hue Extraction by Edi ClelandLife’s Many Vicissitudes by Olivia CotovichBlended by Abbey MunroeConnecting with Country by Sonia Shields and Where are we Now by Katrina ManeThe Origin of the World by Minka GillianMother Eagles Going Hunting by Iluwante Ken
