Queensland Museum Kurilpa — Attraction in Brisbane City

JUDY WATSON'S strong lifetime of artistry. Bold large scale and intimate. Free, open every day

National Indigenous Times

Phoebe Blogg - March 26, 2024

'mudunama kundana wandaraba jarribirri: Judy Watson', is a new exhibition of works by Brisbane-based Waanyi artist, Judy Watson, at the Queensland Art Gallery.

Inspired by a poem in Waanyi language by Watson's son Otis Carmichael, the exhibition's title translates to "tomorrow the tree grows stronger".

Presented in Queensland Art Galleries (QAG's) central exhibition spaces and Watermall, mudunama kundana wandaraba jarribirri' will run until August 11, having opened on March 23.

Watson told National Indigenous Times that the exhibition "walks the participant through identity, history, politics, feminism, environmentalism and it recreates my journey as a young woman; Dealing with stereotypes of who it was to be a woman, who we are as Aboriginal people - if we do or do not look the part."

"It also covers the history of my matrilineal line in particular. My grandmother, great and great-great grandmother and how they were able to survive in this country," she said.

"My job as an artist is to uncover those histories, rattle the bones of the archive and lift those histories up to show the viewer."

QAGOMA director Chris Saines said the gallery is proud to be able to celebrate the Watson's storytelling.

"Since the early 1980s, Watson has drawn powerful stories and profound truths from the Country of her matrilineal family and fashioned them into fluid and ethereal works of art," he said.

Watson's history with QAGOMA initially began with her work being featured in the inaugural Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in 1993. Her enormously scaled bronze net sculpture tow row at the entrance to Gallery of Modern Art was commissioned to mark the tenth anniversary of the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) in 2016.

Today, Watson's mudunama kundana wandaraba jarribirri is a comprehensive survey of the renowned Queensland artist's incisive meditations on colonial, social and ecological concerns. It is also her most extensive solo exhibition to date.

The exhibition includes 130 works, across painting, prints, sculpture, installation and video, from an artistic practice centred on truth-telling around the environment, historical government policy affecting Indigenous Australians, and institutions that collect First Nations cultural material and remains.

'Mudunama kundana wandaraba jarribirri: Judy Watson' is accompanied by a major publication that includes contributions from exhibition curator Katina Davidson; stories transcribed from conversations with Watson's family members; a poetic response by Jazz Money; and an international perspective on Watson's work from Tarah Hogue, Curator, Indigenous Art, at Remai Modern, Saskatoon, Canada.

This career-survey exhibition, curated by Katina Davidson, curator of Indigenous Australian Art, QAGOMA, highlights Watson's deeply considered practice and the subjects that have resonated in her work across four decades: research of cultural objects in collecting institutions, feminism, truth-telling, ensuring the presence of Indigenous Australian stories and culture, and a commitment to the environment and country.

The exhibition was several years in the making and is the most expansive survey of Watson's career to date. The exhibition draws together works including significant paintings, sculptures and installations, the largest collection of Watson's video works ever shown, and artist books and prints dating from the early 1980s through to the present," said Davidson.

"Central to the exhibition are more than 35 of Watson's large unstretched canvases, impressively and seductively charged with her...

Queensland Museum & Sciencentre is on the corner of Grey and Melbourne Streets, conveniently located in Brisbane's Southbank Cultural Precinct - parking is available, public transport is close by, and general admission is free. The exciting new exhibitions are always amazing, but they may charge an admission fee for some of them. Open daily from 9.30am to 5.00pm, there is a shop, cafe and disabled access is available. The museum can be hired for special events and functions, weddings, intimate cocktail parties or corporate dinners - how amazing is that! Exhibitions are constantly changing, so you never get bored, but they do keep their regular favourites too. The Museum is a wonderful place to take new visitors to Brisbane, the perfect place for the very young and old, and it has something of interest for everyone. You can even tour the museum at night, which would be an awesome birthday experience for any child. The Museum offers innovative public programs, many cool educational experiences and holiday and early childhood activities, so do check out their website for details. If you love the museum and plan to use it regularly, I suggest you become a "MyMuseum" member, and take advantage of the super discounted deals. The Sciencentre is a favourite area, where you can use the kinetic and interactive displays & experiments - MyMuseum members have "unlimited" free entry to the Sciencentre for 12 months. My favourite spot, and where I love spending time, is the "Discovery Centre" The resident pair of live green tree snakes are very popular. Even if you hate snakes, like I do - challenge yourself and take a closer look - they are quite beautiful and growing fast. The staff are super friendly, and happy to share their extensive natural history knowledge with you. Ask them to run through all the deadliest native species found in Australia - it's simple eye opening - great for freaking out your tourist guests or children! If you visit the Discovery Centre on a Wednesday around 1pm, a curator or special guest brings along a very special object from their extensive museum collection, and chats about it with you, its a great way to get close to the many...

As someone who loves both culture and curiosity, I was absolutely captivated by my visit to Queensland Museum Kurilpa. Nestled at the corner of Grey and Melbourne Streets in South Brisbane’s Cultural Precinct, this museum is a vibrant showcase of Queensland’s rich natural history, heritage, and scientific achievements .

From the moment I stepped in, I was drawn into immersive spaces housing more than a million items—everything from prehistoric dinosaurs and ancient fossils in the Dinosaurs Unearthed gallery to biologically-rich environments in Wild State, which celebrate Queensland’s extraordinary biodiversity . One of the standout exhibits for me was Mephisto, the only surviving A7V Sturmpanzerwagen tank in the world, displayed in the poignant Anzac Legacy Gallery on Level 1—such a powerful reminder of history .

Families will love SparkLab, a magical hands-on STEM space where kids aged 6–13 can experiment, build, and explore science through interactive exhibits and live demos in zones like the Maker Space and Science Bar . I also joined one of the Daily Highlights Tours, led by knowledgeable guides, which offered deeper context to hidden gems across the museum—don’t miss this free experience if you’re there on weekdays or weekends .

What I really appreciated is that general admission is free—so you can wander through the permanent galleries at your own pace. Only special experiences such as SparkLab or blockbuster exhibitions require tickets, and everything can be booked or accessed easily online .

Overall, Queensland Museum Kurilpa is a discovery-filled gem that flows effortlessly from playful to profound. Whether you’re after science, history, or immersive learning, this museum offers an enriching, family-friendly visit right at the heart...