Bronze termite mounds and inverted dillybag sculptures have taken up residence as an installation in Queensland Art Gallery’s (QAG) watermall. Overlooking the installation, artist Judy Watson recalls a story about her late father, Don Watson, with some humour. Their young family was camping when her father spotted a menacing figure in the distance. Her father clung to his rifle, ready to protect his family, but the dawn light revealed it as a harmless termite mound.
Watson was born in Mundubbera, south-east Queensland. Her work has taken her to international stages, including the Venice Biennale and the Gwangju Biennale in Korea and a commission at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris. Her public art commissions include the work tow row, which sits just outside the front door of Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art. Her commissions also reside at Melbourne Museum, Sydney International Airport, the Brisbane Magistrates Court, and many more. Her work Waanyi was also included in last year’s Shadow Spirit exhibition as part of RISING.
