Hamilton Gallery will host Emerging From Darkness: Faith, Emotion and The Body in the Baroque, featuring
world renowned masterpieces including some never-before-seen works.
Opening on December 8, 2023 and running through to April 14, 2024, Emerging From Darkness (EFD) will be one of the most important exhibitions ever to be held in regional Australia.
Drawn from partnerships with and loans from the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), the National Gallery of Australia and private lenders from across the country, EFD will showcase international masters Artemisia Gentileschi, Lavinia Fontana, Sofonisba Anguissola, Peter Paul Rubens, Valentin de Boulogne, Guercino and Bartolomeo Manfredi, among others.
Baroque is one of the most passionate art movements, powerful, emotive and unapologetic. Visitors will experience works that impacted and changed the course of art. An exhibition of this content can usually only be experienced in galleries and museums overseas. Included in the show are rare paintings by female artists that cathartically reinterpret experiences of violence and turmoil, yet at the same time, represent a voice of empowerment, of asserting one’s rights. As such, EFD is a unique cultural opportunity for local residents and visitors to the Southern Grampians region.
In announcing support from the Labor Government’s Regional Events Fund, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos, said, ‘This internationally significant exhibition of baroque masterpieces is set to attract thousands of visitors to Hamilton – boosting local jobs, hospitality and tourism across the Southern Grampians region.’
Tony Ellwood, Director, NGV stated, ‘The NGV is delighted to lend some of its most important works from the Baroque period to the Emerging From Darkness: Faith, Emotion and The Body in the Baroque exhibition. Our valuable partnership with Hamilton Gallery and other regional galleries around Victoria ensures that our State Collection is shared and experienced by all Victorians and visitors to our regions.’
EFD is curated by Laurie Benson, Curator of International Art at the NGV, Dr David Marshall, Assoc. Prof., University of Melbourne Culture & Communications, Dr Lisa Beaven, Senior Research Fellow, La Trobe University and Ian Brilley, Exhibitions and Collections Coordinator, Hamilton Gallery.
Joshua White, Director, Hamilton Gallery, emphasised the international significance of the exhibition.
‘Emerging From Darkness is world-class and demonstrates how regional galleries can connect audiences to
international experiences.’
EFD will be complemented by a symposium, a series of talks, tourism packages involving regional
accommodation and food and wine experiences, and bespoke products including a coffee table publication.
