Touching other people’s butterflies

The Devonport Regional Gallery has received a long term loan from the National Gallery Of Australia with support from the Australian Government as part of Sharing the National Collection.
The Artwork Touching other people’s butterflies by Joan Ross will be displayed on the Market Screen Square 6 December 2024 – 6 December 2026 10am and 2pm daily.

Touching other people’s butterflies by Joan Ross is a 2 minute 30 second digital animation of Distant View of Hobart (1825) by Joseph Lycett. 
 
Ross’ handmade and collaged effects meld colonial and contemporary periods to examine themes of possession, dispossession and ownership in the Australian landscape.  
 
Ross is a significant Australian artist, held in the country’s largest public collections including the Art Gallery of NSW, the Museum of Contemporary Art, National Gallery of Australia, and many others, and has won many awards and prizes. This work significant both nationally and locally 
 
Sharing the National Collection is part of Revive, Australia’s new national cultural policy, with $11.8m over four years to fund the costs of transporting, installing and insuring works in the national art collection so that they can be seen across the country for extended periods.  
 
Although Ross is Sydney based, her professional history and artistic connections with Tasmania are significant and her work often features iconic Tasmanian images and stories. 
 
Image Details: Joan Ross, Touching other people’s butterflies, 2013, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Gordon Darling Australia Pacific Print Fund 2014 © Joan Ross/ N.Smith Gallery, Sydney