Heading west for summer at TMAG

West: Out on the Edge Gallery 1

This summer, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) is proud to present West: Out on the Edge, a captivating new multidisciplinary exhibition exploring a unique region of our state.

Tasmania’s west is a complex and compelling place, isolated by its extreme terrain but strengthened by its history and community.

Staged across TMAG’s four Argyle Galleries, West: Out on the Edge shows how people have shaped the west and, in turn, been shaped by it.

Visitors can learn about the west’s defining natural elements, as well as the stories of people who have made their home in the remote and often inhospitable environment.

They can also delve into the west’s extensive industrial history and discover how the region has inspired countless artists past and present.

West: Out on the Edge also provides opportunities for visitors to share their own views and reflections on the west and its past, present and people, both in the galleries and online.

TMAG Director Janet Carding said the exhibition was the first in a series of exhibitions planned that will explore people and place in Tasmania.

“West: Out on the Edge demonstrates TMAG’s commitment to showcasing the diversity of the communities around our state,” Janet said.

“It provides a platform to reflect on the complexities and contradictions of Tasmania’s west, a region that can seem remote and unfamiliar to those of us in in the state’s larger population centres such as Hobart.

“We hope that visitors will leave with a better understanding of Tasmania, through experiencing the essential elements that make the region tick – and perhaps even be inspired to ‘go west’ themselves.”

Part of the community-centric focus of the exhibition is the Hydro Tasmania West: Out on the Edge Photography Project, with photographers of all ages and skill levels invited to share their own images of the west to be part of an in-gallery display.

West: Out on the Edge will also be accompanied by an extensive public program, which begins with the Hydro Tasmania Discovery Day on Sunday 8 December.

Further events over summer include the January School Holiday Program, which will focus on the exhibition’s themes, as well as a special late-night opening on Friday 31 January and a panel discussion hosted in conjunction with ABC Hobart on 29 February.

The exhibition is supported by major partners Hydro Tasmania and the Tasmanian Community Fund, as well as program partner Blundstone Australia, production partner Hydrowood and media partners The Mercury and Triple M Hobart.

Hydro Tasmania CEO, Steve Davy, said West: Out on the Edge captured something truly Tasmanian.

“We rightly celebrate Tasmania’s cities, beaches and wilderness, but the West Coast is renowned for the harsh beauty of its environment – the same geology and climate that has made the area so successful for the generation of hydroelectric power,” Steve said.

“There are some great opportunities to engage with this exhibition in different ways, including the Photography Project, panel discussion, TMAG’s School Holiday Program, and the Hydro Tasmania Discovery Day.

“We hope this will inspire an appreciation of the West Coast for the next generation of Tasmanians.”

Complementing West: Out on the Edge is the smaller exhibition Captured Moments, which features fascinating images captured by amateur photographer Jackie Robinson in the mining towns of the west during the early 20th century.

West: Out on the Edge is on show in TMAG’s Argyle Galleries 1-4 from 6 December 2019 until 10 May 2020. Captured Moments: Photographs by Jackie Robinson, is on show in the Salon Gallery from 6 December 2019 until 26 April 2020.