KEY POINTS:
One of the many quotes by artist Andy Warhol which are such a prominent feature of the new retrospective exhibition at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) is "pop art is for anyone". The enduring popularity of his art proves he was right. Warhol's work has a far-reaching attraction; it is art that appeals to almost everybody, whether they know anything about the subject or not.
The outrageously bright colours, celebrity subjects and repetitive images are instantly recognisable the world over, and Warhol, the figurehead of the pop art movement, has proved to be one of the most influential and important artists of the late 20th century.
Andy Warhol, which is exclusive to Brisbane, is one of the most comprehensive Warhol shows ever compiled and marks the 20th anniversary of his death. It features more than 300 pieces, including paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, photographs, films, videos and installations, many on loan from the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.
Museum director Tom Sokolowski, a special guest at the opening, spoke frankly about his acquaintance with Warhol ("I knew Warhol for a long time but wouldn't have considered him a friend ... he was only known to maybe four or five people in his life"), and gave interesting insights into the artist's gay relationships ("He would travel with a bevvy of boys"), his insecurities and obsessions, his often mean and manipulative personality, his dyslexia and the fact he "probably" suffered from Asperger's syndrome which would help explain the repetitive nature of his habits and art.
The opening of Andy Warhol - the culmination of a five-year project - coincides with GoMA's first birthday. The gallery is a beautifully designed building and its high ceilings and plentiful wall space seem almost custom-made to showcase the pop artist's iconic works to full effect.
The retrospective is split into two parts. The first covers Warhol's commercial advertising work from the 1950s and'60s, and features drawings of Coca-Cola bottles, shoes and handbags, the Campbell's Soup Cans, and the Brillo and Heinz box sculptures.
Here too are the large screenprints of celebrity figures like Jackie Onassis, Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe, for which the pop artist is best known. The works are well-displayed with feature walls dotted throughout - 11 Chairman Mao screenprints are displayed on Mao wallpaper; eight Campbell's Soup Cans are mounted on a bright red wall - and the entrance into the show is dominated by Warhol's fabulous Cow wallpaper in electric blues, pinks and yellows.
Next comes the Death in America series which is rarely seen in depth outside the United States. Startling images include a burning car wreck, race riots, Electric Chair and an eerily distorted suicide jumper.
A mini-gallery with seven large screens is dedicated to a selection of his Screen Tests - four-minute clips of subjects staring into the camera, blinking as little as possible. There are two other screening rooms playing Warhol's experimental avant garde cinema - probably the least accessible part of the exhibition. Empire is the same view of New York's Empire State building filmed over eight hours, while The Chelsea Girls is made from 12 reels filmed at the Chelsea Hotel, Warhol's Factory studio and apartments in New York's East Village.
The pop artist was an obsessive fan and collector of celebrity memorabilia. There are three Time Capsules in glass top display cases which feature items like his private letters, photos, invitations, accessories, menus, books, bills, vinyl, pill bottles, newspaper clippings and pop posters.
The second part of the retrospective looks at Warhol's last decade of work when he returned to painting. His near-fatal shooting by feminist stalker Valerie Solanas in 1968 had a profound effect on his art, and his work moved into more traditional themes such as religion, self-portraits, symbols and abstract imagery. Here too is Velvet Underground memorabilia, documentary photographs of the artist and his milieu mounted on Warhol wallpaper and video footage from the Factory days.
The Silver Factory: Andy Warhol for Kids" section in the gallery's Children's Art Centre makes you wish you were young again. Displayed on walls decorated with the artist's Fish wallpaper are a selection of his toy paintings. A large-scale version of the Silver Clouds installation takes place in a room filled with big helium-filled metalised plastic balloons which kids can play in, and a room of interactive computer screens offer up a cartoon "Warhol's World" quiz. There are drawing activities and younger children can make their own sculptures out of Brillo boxes. The best part? Kids can take part in their own 15-second black and white silent Screen Test, which is manipulated to recreate the unique qualities of Warhol's test reels and beamed on to a large screen. Genius.
Another clever addition are the computerised photobooths scattered throughout. In just a couple of minutes, you can make your own version of a Warhol screenprint and email it home at no charge. Warhol used photobooths as source material for many of his screenprinted portraits.
As mentioned, the pop artist's many colourful and often controversial quotes play a major part in the show and are everywhere through the gallery. Every possible detail has been thought of - pop art cupcakes bearing tiny Elizabeth Taylor screenprints were served at the opening party and can be ordered in the Foyer Bistro. You can buy a mind-boggling array of memorabilia at the Warhol Supermarket, from tea towels to banana split bowls, books, DVDs and fridge magnets. His images and personal quirks are a marketing dream - and Warhol, who made a business out of the repackaging of everyday items, would not have wanted it any other way.
* Shandelle Battersby travelled to Brisbane courtesy of Tourism Queensland, Brisbane Marketing, Qantas and the Gallery of Modern Art
ALL ABOUT ANDY
* Entry price: Children $10, adults $20, 12 and under free. There are concessions for family and adult groups. You can get tickets from www.qtix.com.au or at the ticket counter.
* Open: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm.
* Warhol Summer Leisure Escapes: Ticket and accommodation packages are available at several Brisbane hotels, see www.warholbrisbane.com.au for more information.
EVENTS, EATING AND SHOPPING
* Warhol Up Late - GoMA will stay open until 9pm for live entertainment by artists including Trans Am and Ed Kuepper, "15 Minutes of Fame" celebrity talks and tours, refreshments and films. Fridays from Jan 4-Mar 30.
* Film Programme - The gallery's Australian Cinematheque will screen 53 restored Warhol films and 279 Screen Tests. See www.qag.qld.gov.au/cinematheque for more information.
* Andy Warhol Summer Festival - Includes a range of performances, artist-run workshops and activities. The Cinematheque will screen daily films featuring Shirley Temple and Judy Garland - two of Warhol's favourite actresses. From Jan 18-28, 10.30am-2.30pm daily. Festival events specifically for kids include a quiz show (Jan 19-20 and 26-27 at 11am, noon and 1pm).
* Sunday Afternoons Lecture Series - Speakers address three major themes in Warhol's work: celebrity, pop music and culture, and gender in contemporary art and theory. 2pm Sundays fortnightly from Feb 3 to Mar 30.
* Gallery Talks - Tours with gallery staff, 2pm selected Saturdays. Guided tours Dec and Jan 1pm daily; Feb and Mar 2pm weekdays, 12.30pm weekends.
* iPod Tours - An online podcast tour is available to download at www.qag.qld.gov.au/warhol.
* The Warhol Supermarket - The exhibition's very own merchandise store, located adjacent to the ticket desk.
* Jackie O or Andy W High Tea - Includes pop art cupcakes, pink pillbox hat lamingtons and New York brownies. $35 at the gallery's Foyer Bistro.
ON THE WEB
www.qag.qld.gov.au
