Join us to celebrate the opening of two new exhibitions at the IMA, Tom Nicholson: Drawings and correspondence, and Ryan Presley: Prosperity, plus the launch of the first monograph of Nicholson’s work, Lines towards Another.

At 5pm hear from artist Tom Nicholson in conversation with Lines towards Another co-editor Amelia Barikin. The discussion will be followed by the official opening of the two exhibitions at 6pm.

The event is free and open to everyone. Register your attendance on Eventbrite here.

Tom Nicholson: Drawings and correspondence
Tom Nicholson’s solo exhibition surveys the central role drawing plays in his engagement with contemporary political realities in Australia and beyond. The show presents works from 2005 to 2018, focusing on both the histories and possibilities of drawing, and its relationship to writing. The project centres upon a moment at Kwartatuma/Ormiston Gorge in Central Australia, at the outbreak of WWII, in the remarkable relationship between the non-Aboriginal watercolourist Rex Battarbee and the Western Arrernte artist Albert Namatjira.

The exhibition is accompanied by the publication, Lines towards Another, edited by Amelia Barikin and Helen Hughes, and co-published by the IMA, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, and Sternberg Press. Tony Birch, Bridget Crone, Jacqueline Doughty, Anthony Gardner, Anneke Jaspers, Ryan Johnston, John Mateer, Shelley McSpedden, Mihnea Mircan, Grace Samboh, Ann Stephen, and the editors themselves give compelling insight into Nicholson’s diverse material approach, political practice, and historical context.

Ryan Presley: Prosperity
Brisbane-based artist Ryan Presley has produced new work as part of his ongoing project, Blood Money (2010–present), which deals with representation and exchange. In his richly layered watercolour paintings, he reimagines our figureheads on Australian banknotes as the heroes and warriors of Aboriginal history, including Pemulwuy, Dundalli, and Oodgeroo Noonuccal. Alongside these paintings, Presley is staging a participatory currency exchange where visitors are invited to exchange Australian dollars (AUD) for printed Blood Money currency (BMD).

Lines towards Another is supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation and Myer Foundation. Ryan Presley: Prosperity is supported by the Australia Council for the Arts and Arts Queensland.