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Spiders of Paradise to open at Tweed Regional Gallery
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Maria Fernanda Cardoso speaking at Cairns Art Gallery, 2024 Photo: Jacinta Pink.
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The Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre will present Maria Fernanda Cardoso: Spiders of Paradise, at its opening on Friday 9 May.
The exhibition celebrates the natural beauty and wonder of the Australian Maratus spider, and has been developed and toured nationally since August last year by the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia).
Colombian Australian artist, Maria Fernanda Cardoso, is internationally renowned for using unconventional and organic materials to consider nature and its links to culture and science. Using sculpture, photography, installation, video and performance, her work examines the connections and tensions between society and the natural world.
Spiders of Paradise presents Cardoso’s ongoing photographic project on the captivating tiny Australian Maratus spider. Engaging the creative terrain between science, art and nature, this exhibition celebrates the remarkable beauty of the natural world and reveals the sophisticated lives of creatures that are usually unseen.
Tweed Regional Gallery Director, Ingrid Hedgcock, welcomed the touring exhibition to the Tweed.
“We have been looking forward to presenting this exhibition in our region for some time and are excited to showcase Cardoso’s work that we know will be popular across many audiences,” Ms Hedgcock said.
For Cardoso, the Maratus spider holds a special place in the natural ecosystem.
“The Maratus spiders of Australia are the most colourful, flamboyant, sexy and charming spiders on the planet. To me, their use of colour, gesture, sound and movement makes them sophisticated visual and performing artists. They are also the smallest performers I know of, on average about 3-5mm in size, smaller than a grain of rice," Cardoso said.
The exhibition is centered around 17 large-scale digital photographic portraits of various species of the Maratus, displaying their unique and brightly coloured abdomens that form part of their elaborate mating rituals.
Cardoso worked with renowned scientific imager Geoff Thompson and entomologist Andy Wang from the Queensland Museum, who specialise in deep focus microphotography and microscopic specimen preparation to create these large-scale photographs. Each photographic image is comprised of over 1,000 individual photos which together reveal the spiders’ nuanced colour and form in stunning detail.
Accompanying the suite of framed photographic works is a large-scale immersive projection of Cardoso’s acclaimed video On the Origins of Art I-II (2016), a work co-owned by MCA Australia and Tate through its International Joint Acquisition Program. This work presents the complex courtship ritual of the Maratus, a sophisticated communication through dance and vibration, which culminates in the display of their colourful patterns.
MCA Australia has worked closely with the artist to develop the exhibition as part of her 2019/20 New Dimensions: NSW Visual Arts (Established) Fellowship. This award developed in partnership with Create NSW and MCA Australia has enabled Cardoso to expand her ongoing series Spiders of Paradise, to create new works for this touring exhibition.
Suzanne Cotter, Director, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia says the exhibition speaks to the MCA’s commitment to connecting new audiences to current Australian works.
“The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia is committed to introducing new audiences to the work of Australian living artists,” Ms Cotter said.
“We look forward to presenting Maria Fernanda Cardoso’s national tour and allowing for people across the country to discover and engage with her work on the Maratus spider.”
The exhibition is accompanied by a range of engaging public programs including a Teacher Professional Development session and activities for young people.
A special Artist Preview Floortalk will be held by Maria Fernanda Cardoso before the exhibition’s official opening, enabling enthusiasts to enjoy an exclusive preview and hear directly from the artist about the process behind her stunning photographic series and video work. Tickets for the event are on sale now through the Gallery’s website.
The exhibition will officially open on the evening of Friday 9 May as part of a multi-opening event celebrating the Gallery’s launch of its Winter program. Bookings are recommended via the Gallery website. Guests are invited to enjoy a pre-drink with spectacular views from the Apex Dining balcony before the official opening commences, dinner reservations to be made online via the Apex Dining website.
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Public Programs:Artist Preview FloortalkMaria Fernanda CardosoFriday 9 May | 5 – 6 pm | $10/15
Join the artist for an exhibition walk-through of Maria Fernanda Cardoso: Spiders of Paradise developed and toured by the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Learn more about the artistic process behind her stunning photographic series and video.
Bookings essential. https://events.humanitix.com/cpfmsWinter Opening CelebrationsFriday 9 May | 6 – 8 pm | Free
Join us for the opening celebrations for Maria Fernanda Cardoso: Spiders of Paradise developed and toured by the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Key Rhythm by Tamara Mendels, Breast Plates by Luther Cora, and Gunimaa-Source by Debbie Taylor-Worley and Sophie Taylor.
Bookings essential . https://events.humanitix.com/wo25Teacher Professional DevelopmentFriday 9 May | 2 pm – 5 pm | $50
Enhance your skills with Artist Educators from Museum of Contemporary Art Australia as they unpack the exhibition Maria Fernanda Cardoso: Spiders of Paradise developed and toured by MCA Australia. Learn gallery and classroom strategies and approaches in response to the exhibition and related artists and practices. Discuss current and upcoming exhibitions at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre. Your ticket includes entry to the Artist Preview Floortalk with Maria Fernanda Cardoso from 5 pm and a complimentary drink at the Winter Opening Celebrations from 6 pm.
Bookings essential: https://events.humanitix.com/teacher-professional-developmentGallery PlaydateWednesday 4 June | 9.00 – 10.00 am | Free
Fun, engaging sessions for children aged 3 - 5 years and their carers. This session is based on Maria Fernanda Cardoso: Spiders of Paradise and uses creative play to develop imagination and skill. Younger children are welcome to attend and enjoy the sensory play area and story time, guided artmaking activities are suited to 3-5 yrs.
Bookings essential: https://events.humanitix.com/gpdautArt Play Wed 2, Fri 4, & Wed 16, Fri 18 July | 11 am – 1 pm | Free
Join local artist Charlotte Haywood for artmaking activities inspired by the exhibition Maria Fernanda Cardoso: Spiders of Paradise developed and toured by the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Family friendly activity. Children must be accompanied by an adult. ll materials included. No bookings required. Supported by Friends of the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre Inc.
Art Maker Wed 9 July | 10.30 – 12.30 pm | $25
Join a special guest artist in the Gallery Workshop. Learn new skills and techniques inspired by artworks on display. All materials included. Booking essential: https://events.humanitix.com/mapbs
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Maria Fernanda Cardoso, Spiders of Paradise: Maratus madelineae, 2024, pigment print on paper, framed, courtesy the artist and Sullivan+Strumpf, Sydney © the artist
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Maria Fernanda Cardoso in studio, 2020, photograph: Daniel Boud
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Downloads
Photo 1: Artist with image:
Maria Fernanda Cardoso speaking at Cairns Art Gallery, 2024 Photo: Jacinta Pink.
Photo 2: Maratus spider
Maria Fernanda Cardoso, Spiders of Paradise: Maratus madelineae, 2024, pigment print on paper, framed, courtesy the artist and Sullivan+Strumpf, Sydney © the artist
Photo 3: Artist in studio
Maria Fernanda Cardoso in studio, 2020, photograph: Daniel Boud
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Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre
2 Mistral Road (corner of Tweed Valley Way, Murwillumbah South)
PO Box 816 Murwillumbah, NSW 2484
The Gallery is open from Wednesday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm (Café 8:30 am to 4 pm).
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Tweed Shire Council wishes to acknowledge the Ngandowal and Minyungbal speaking people of the Bundjalung Country, in particular the Goodjinburra, Tul-gi-gin and Moorung – Moobah clans, as being the traditional owners and custodians of the land and waters within the Tweed Shire boundaries. Council also acknowledges and respects the Tweed Aboriginal community’s right to speak for its Country and to care for its traditional Country in accordance with its lore, customs and traditions.
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