AUSTRALIA

The Fine Art of Tapestry Weaving; Tapestry; 9 April – 4 May 2008

The Australian National University, School of Art Gallery

The exhibition explores relationships between fine art,
tapestry and weaving in the works of nine contemporary
artists from a diverse range of backgrounds, training and
cultural perspectives.

As an emerging art in Australia, tapestry has a short history,
developed through the contemporary craft movement,
community tapestry projects, the Victorian Tapestry
Workshop, individual artists and arts organizations. The main
influences are from European traditions dating back to the
medieval period when tapestry narratives were produced
in abundance. During the Renaissance, Raphael’s tapestry
cartoons depicting the “Acts of the Apostles” established a
close relationship between teams of tapestry artisans and
painters. This way of working continued through to William
Morris who brought about changes in design for tapestry,
refined the use of colour and reinstated tapestry as an art
form in its own right. French painter Jean Lurcat and Scottish
master weaver Archie Brennan then developed and shaped
the European and related North American and Australian
movements in the 20thC