Elise Archer,Minister for the Arts
A new exhibition about Thomas Griffiths Wainewright, one of Australia's most intriguing colonial artists, has opened today at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.
Paradise Lost: Thomas Griffiths Wainewright is the first major exhibition to focus on the life and art of the notorious artist and convict, who was born into affluence in England in 1794, transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1837 and died in Hobart in 1847.
Wainewright is regarded as one of Australia's finest colonial artists, and TMAG holds 10 of his portraits of Hobart Town's prosperous colonists and officials – the largest collection in the world.
Paradise Lost brings together all of these, along with other works by Wainewright and his circle from collections across Australia and New Zealand, to provide a new perspective on the passionate, talented and enigmatic artist.
Paradise Lost is a key part of the Dark Mofo visual art program for 2021, and TMAG will be hosting late night openings and a program of free tours of the exhibition as part of the festival.
