Worlds within Worlds Baroque Traditions, Contemporary Visions

Dawn Ng, Singapore b.1982 / The Earth is an hourglass 2024 / Single-channel 4K video: 38:33 minutes, colour, 16:9 / Purchased 2024 with funds from the Melbourne Art Foundation and the QAGOMA Foundation/ Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Dawn Ng / View full image

When

14 Mar – 16 Aug 2026

Where

Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery 4

Admission

Free

About

‘Worlds within Worlds’ explores how the symbolic and stylistic features of art from the Baroque period (around 1600–1750) have been invoked by contemporary artists, who — like their predecessors of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries — are reflecting on a world in flux.

These works suggest parallels between Baroque and contemporary artists in their desire to interrogate structures of religion and power, the changing relationship between humans and nature, and ideas of decay and destruction.

Zilvinas Kempinas, Lithuania b.1969 / Columns 2006 / Magnetic tape, painted wood panels and nails / Purchased 2012 with funds from Tim Fairfax AM through the QAG Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Zilvinas Kempinas / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA / View full image
Patricia Piccinini, Australia b.1965 / The stags 2008 / Fibreglass, automotive paint, leather, steel, plastic, tyres / Two pieces: 177 x 183 x 102cm and 147 x 90 x 101cm; 196 x 224 x 167cm / Purchased 2009 with funds from the Estate of Lawrence F King in memory of the late Mr and Mrs SW King through the QAG Foundation and the Queensland Government's Gallery of Modern Art Acquisitions Fund / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Patricia Piccinini / View full image
Tintoretto, Italy 1518-94 / Cristo risorgente (The risen Christ) c.1555 / Oil on canvas / 201 x 139cm / Purchased 1981. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / View full image
Installation view of Tintoretto's Cristo risorgente (The risen Christ) c.1555 / Oil on canvas / 201 x 139cm / Purchased 1981. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / Photograph: J Ruckli © QAGOMA / View full image
Dawn Ng, Singapore b.1982 / The Earth is an hourglass 2024 / Single-channel 4K video: 38:33 minutes, colour, 16:9 / Purchased 2024 with funds from the Melbourne Art Foundation and the QAGOMA Foundation/ Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Dawn Ng / View full image

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Yao Jui-Chung, Taiwan b.1969 / (Untitled) (from 'Everything will fall into ruin' series) 1990-2009 / Black and white digital photograph on paper / 111.8 x 159.3cm / Gift of the artist through the QAG Foundation 2009 / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Yao Jui-Chung / View full image

Education resource

The QAGOMA Learning team has developed a series of curriculum-aligned resources, including discussion questions and suggested activities, to support meaningful engagement with 'Worlds Within Worlds'. Each resource is focused on a key theme: Light, Symbolism, and Illusion.

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Worlds within Worlds

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