Mudgee Arts Precinct launches new exhibition
Published on 30 June 2022
Mudgee Arts Precinct’s latest exhibition, Mating Dance by Anna-Wili Highfield will be unveiled this week.
Opening on Saturday 2 July, the exhibition is a celebration of Australia’s principal dancing bird - the brolga, and features unique sculptures sewn from waxed cotton of the Australian native birds suspended like marionettes in courtship formations. Composer and musician Bree Van Reyk has created an accompanying sound piece which will intermittently join the dancing birds with instrumentals inspired by the brolga’s bold trumpeting.
Anna-Wili first exhibited Mating Dance at Glasshouse Regional Gallery, Port Macquarie where she spent time drawing inspiration from the abundant birdlife within the lands of the Dunghutti and Birpai people. The exhibition now travels to another place of significance, with the brolga known to inhabit the Mid-Western Region on the lands of the Wiradjuri people.
Born in 1980, Anna-Wili studied fine art at the National Art School, Sydney and worked for many years as a scenic artist for Opera Australia, before establishing herself independently as a practising artist. Her remarkable sculptures are held in private collections around the world and have featured in numerous publications, including the New York Times and Sculpture Review, USA.
The largest commercial collection of Anna-Wili’s work is held by luxury French fashion brand Hermès, with her well renowned solo exhibitions including Animals at Carriageworks, Sydney, Spirit Faces, Olsen Gruin Gallery New York City, and Companions, Olsen Gallery Sydney.
Contributing artist Bree van Reyk is a drummer, percussionist, composer and sound artist who lives and works on Gagigal, Bidjigal and Awabakal lands. Bree has forged a unique career playing and recording with the likes of Gurrumul, Emma Donovan and Paul Kelly, as well as the Australian Chamber Orchestra with commissions by Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Chamber Orchestra and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
The exhibition aims to choreograph a moment in nature in a way that emphasises a shared spirt between humans and animals.
Mating Dance by Anna-Wili Highfield will open 2 July and closes 18 September.
Mudgee Arts Precinct is open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm. Entry is free.