Wonderful Wonderful

Scenes from the Collection

EXHIBITION
 Free
21 September - 17 November 2024
Bathurst Regional Art Gallery

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) dives deep into the permanent collection to present new exhibition, Wonderful Wonderful: Scenes from the Collection.

Exuberant, humorous, and deadly serious, the exhibition moves across time, place, histories and artistic genre to offer fresh ways of experiencing an extravaganza of artistic riches – the BRAG Collection.

Roaming cultural, social and political history, the exhibition comprises a suite of monumental ‘collage’ scenes, where disparate artworks are juxtaposed to form conversational tableaux. What might seem random and unrelated, becomes coherent, incisive and intriguing. Variously, each scene offers whispers to your thoughts, a laugh in your belly, and the occasional slap in the face.

Presenting nearly 200 artworks collected over the last seventy years, Wonderful Wonderful: Scenes from the Collection features a rollcall of celebrated Australian artists, including Harold Cazneaux, John Coburn, Peter Cooley, Grace Cossington Smith, Reg Campbell, Karla Dickens, Leonard French, Marea Gazzard, Frank Hinder, Margel Hinder, Locust Jones, Graham Lupp, Francis Lymburner, Roy de Maistre, Mandy Martin, Lloyd Rees, Joan Ross, Eugenie Solonov and Roland Wakelin.

Opinionated, iconoclastic, sometimes slightly bonkers, the exhibition works the Collection in magical ways to illuminate the past, to assess the present, and to get ready for what the future might well bring. A multisensory experience, the exhibition is animated with music and a series of public programs, talks, and workshops.

Public Programs

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Education visits, contact BRAG Audience Engagement Officer to book, brag@bathurst.nsw.gov.au

Group bookings, contact BRAG Audience Engagement Officer to book, brag@bathurst.nsw.gov.au



Image: Exhibition view, Wonderful Wonderful: Scenes from the Collection, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, 21 September - 17 November 2024. Photo: Silversalt Photography.

In case of fire

To coincide with this exhibition and to continue our major project of making the permanent collection available online, we invited the staff of Bathurst Regional Council to choose two artworks from the BRAG Collection whilst considering this hypothetical scenario:

“…You’re in the Gallery. You smell smoke. Check for fire. You can rescue two works. Choose the ones you like most. Grab. Run.”

Explore the choices below and check back each week as we publish more staff picks!

"I chose this artwork because I love the vibrant, colour blocking. I feel happy when I see bright colours."

"I chose this work because it shows the passage of time and the permanence and impermanence of things. I feel at home when I see it."

"I chose this work because for me its very aesthetically pleasing. The style of portraiture is beautiful in its use of colour and layers to add depth. I feel sad at this work though. There is sadness in the eyes of the man."

"I chose this piece because I appreciate its composition. It is beautifully balanced with stunning colours and the technique is excellently executed. I love this piece because even though I don't know precisely where it is located if feels like home. It feels serene and peaceful, homely and welcoming. I very much wish to habit the canvas and admire the view with a cup of tea."