Sticking a knife (and a pool) into Rockhampton's art collection

The Rockhampton Art Gallery is welcoming two new works to their collection: Bundit Puangthong’s Sharp Knife (2018) and Lawrence Daws’ The Green Pool (2014).

Sharp Knife

Bundit Puangthong’s Sharp Knife (2018), courtesy Rockhampton Regional Council.

Bundit Puangthong’s vivid paintings bring together traditional Thai art, American pop art and contemporary street art to find a balance between the cultures he lives in.

He donated Sharp Knife trough the Federal Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, as a way of giving back to the gallery for the opportunity to be involved in the 2018 Gold Award, in which he was a finalist.

Each year since its inception in 2012, several finalists have donated works to show their appreciation for the acknowledgment and inclusion in the Award.

“I am thankful for the opportunity and proud to be part of Rockhampton Art Gallery’s growing collection of living artists,” Bundit says.

“This felt like a good way to show my thanks to all the support Queensland has given me over the years.”

The Gold Award was established following a substantial bequest to the then Rockhampton Art Gallery Trust from the Estate of Moya Gold in 2010 for the acquisition of Australian paintings.

The Federal Government’s Cultural Gift Program offer tax incentives to encourage people to donated cultural items to public galleries and museums.

Chair of Rockhampton Regional Council’s Community Services Committee, Cr. Rose Swadling said that it was through the generosity of artists like Bundit Puangthong that Rockhampton Art Gallery is able to ensure its representation of contemporary practice in our nationally significant collection.

Green Pool

Lawrence Daws’ The Green Pool (2014), courtesy Rockhampton Regional Council.

Another acquisition through the Cultural Gift Program, The Green Pool will be the fifth work by Lawrence Daws to join the Rockhampton collection.

Lawrence Daws has been a name in the Australian art world since 1954. His works have engaged generations of Australians and continue to fascinate with their beauty and subtle strangeness.

Rockhampton Art Gallery first acquired the work of Daws in 1977, the era of former Mayor Rex Pilbeam whose art collecting jag inspired the growth and development of the Rockhampton Art Gallery.

Chair of Rockhampton Regional Council’s Community Services Committee, Cr Rose Swadling, said that this most recent gift is a marvellous addition to Rockhampton Art Gallery’s collection.

“The gift of The Green Pool is a fitting and exciting addition to our nationally significant collection and will make the Gallery all the more enticing for visitors and locals,” she said.

Lawrence Daws said he’s delighted the work has found a permanent home in Rocky.

“It is not always easy for such a large work to find a suitable home, but the amazingly generous exhibition spaces in the new Gallery will give this work, one of the largest I have painted, a wonderful setting.

“It is always a pleasure to be represented in a collection with the depth and quality that Rockhampton Art Gallery holds, and to join some of my closest artist friends, such as Charles Blackman, Robert Dickerson, Margaret Olley, and Brett Whiteley in this important new Australian Art Gallery.”