Kenneth Macqueen
Under the casuarinas, Maroochydore c.1938
Purchased 1944
Collection: Queensland Art Gallery
Making it Modern: The Watercolours of Kenneth Macqueen
10 November 2007 – 5 May 2008 Gallery 4, QAG
In 1922 Kenneth Macqueen (1897–1960) settled on a property near Millmerran on Queensland’s Darling Downs. The open, undulating landscape became the focus of his farming and his art. Macqueen’s watercolours reflect an optimistic vision of the country he worked — his crisp, clear washes evoke its climate and landforms. Equally important are watercolours inspired by family holidays on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts that capture the patterns and pleasures of the seaside. ‘Making it Modern’ is a major exhibition of Macqueen’s watercolours highlighting his importance as a key Australian modernist. Featuring approximately 130 watercolours drawn from the Gallery’s Collection and from public and private collections, the exhibition will reveal Kenneth Macqueen as a complex and highly individual artist.
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The exhibition catalogue is available from the Gallery Store |
Sponsored by:
Public Programs
MACQUEEN ON SUNDAY
2.00pm selected Sundays
Visitors can enjoy themed guided tours by Gallery staff held throughout the exhibition.
Special guest lecture: Landscape painting in Australia
11:00am Thursday 24 April
Lecture theatre QAG
Held in conjunction with ‘Making it Modern: The Watercolours of Kenneth Macqueen,’ this lecture will be presented by Dr Mary Eagle, art historian, co-author of A Story of Australian Painting (1994) and author of Peter Purves Smith: A Painter in Peace and War (2001). The program will also feature an introduction by Samantha Littley, curator of ‘Making it Modern’ and former Curator, Australian Art to 1970, Queensland Art Gallery. Free event. No bookings are necessary, however seating is limited.
Weekend Concert
2:00pm Sunday 4 May
Watermall QAG
To mark the closing of ‘Making it Modern,’ musical arts ensemble ‘Collusion’ explores the relationship between different genres of art in this live performance. Macqueen was inspired by music as he painted, including works the composers presented in this intimate program of pieces by Brahms and Debussy.
For more information on Collusion, visit their website.
