GOMA - Matisse | Pip & Pop | Yayoi Kusama

Last week we were in Brisbane visiting family but we also managed to fit in a visit to the Gallery of Modern Art.

Matisse - Drawing Life
This is an  impressive exhibition that features over 300 works on paper by Henri Matisse and is the most comprehensive exhibition of Matisse's prints and drawings ever mounted.

My youngest son (aged 8) was not very keen but my daughter (aged 10) who loves to draw any moment she can get was fascinated with the simple lines and shading Matisse used to create beautiful drawings.

My son did gain interest when we entered the Drawing Room, a large scaled studio.  They both grabbed a board, art paper and pencil to sit amongst other artists to draw just like Matisse.   There are also a selection of interactive tablets available to draw upon  and email your finished artwork to family or friends.  The studio is filled with sculptures, furniture, still - life arrangements and models - plenty of
inspiration.
     

       

• This is a great introduction to Matisse  to check out before you visit - Matisse for Kids

Matisse - Drawing Life runs until the 3rd March
Cost:  Children under 12: free, Adults: $20, Family: 2 adults 2 children ( aged 13- 17) $50

Yayoi Kusama | Look Now, See Forever
We first experienced the vibrant Japanese artist  Yayoi Kusama at the MCA with her exhibition Mirrored Years in 2009. This new exhibition, Look Now, See Forever features new work by the artist that all families will love.

Giant shiny pumpkins greet us as we enter (very tempting to touch - but not allowed), blooming flower sculptures look over us as we pass by and Dots Obsession again tempts us to touch the giant balloons.


A favourite for everyone was the Obliteration room - a completely white room that encourages children to fill with multi-coloured dots.   Kids will enjoy being part of this installation and not being restrained from  touching.  We had a lot of fun finding spaces for our dots.

    

• You can see the progress of the Obliteration room here. 
• The exhibition features painting, sculpture, video and installation
• Children can take photos but not with a flash

Look Now, See Forever runs until March 11th
Cost: Free

Pip & Pop | we miss you magic land!
My daughter and I visited the Japan Foundation 2009 exhibition "Under the crystal sky" of this talented Perth-based duo and we were delighted to see that  we could experience it all again.  GOMA commissioned Pip & Pop (Nicole Andrijevic and Tanya Schultz) to create  a new sugar coated world.    'We miss you magic land!' is absolutely beautiful.

My kids loved moving from one  area to the next and discover the sugary lands and inhabitants.  Children can also lay down on a mat to take in the creations hanging from above.   At the end of the exhibition  they have the opportunity create their own virtual magic land online featuring themselves running around in  the world of of Pip & Pop.   My children are still using the interactive game at home to create new worlds.

we miss you magic land runs until the 4th March 2012.
Cost: Free

Not in Brisbane?
If you  are unable to get to Brisbane to see any of these exhibitions - families can still interact online with a selection of games for kids.   They can fill a room with dots, draw like Matisse and create their own fantasy land.

Memberships at GOMA
This season new family memberships also receive a copy of "Drawing Life for kids: My Art Journal".
More info:  http://qag.qld.gov.au/members/gallery_membership

Location:
Stanley Place, South Bank
Brisbane
http://qag.qld.gov.au/