In conversation with Marian Maguire

In celebration of the new Hellenic Museum exhibition Who Are You?: Athens, Aotearoa and the Art of Marian Maguire, join us for an artist talk with Marian where she will explore her artistic inspirations and processes, and delve into the cultural dynamics explored in her work. Tickets include all-day entry to the Hellenic Museum following the talk.

Members go free – log into your Member account to access 2 free tickets for this event.

About the Exhibition

British, Māori and ancient Greek cultures collide in the works of New Zealand artist Marian Maguire. Who Are You?: Athens, Aotearoa & the Art of Marian Maguire brings a selection of these works to Melbourne's Hellenic Museum, inviting a discussion of identity and its intersection with history and myth.  This combination of cultures triangulates a visual conversation that touches on colonialism, memory, cultural interaction, history and myth, and invites viewers to consider how these factors contribute to the construction of identity on a personal, cultural and national level.

About the Artist

Marian Maguire is a practicing artist from New Zealand, best known for her lithographs and etchings. From the late 90’s her work began to include motifs which melded diverse mythologies with recent historical and social events. The amalgamation of ancient Greek vase paintings and New Zealand colonial history culminated in a set of etchings titled Southern Myths (2002) which reflected the narrative development of the Iliad.

Her subsequent works have expanded to themes which place landscapes and figures from 19th century colonial prints within the framework of past and ongoing tensions within New Zealand biculturalism, using ancient Greek mythology as a vehicle for discourse.

Marian has exhibited across New Zealand, Australia and Europe. Her works hang in significant public and private collections around the world.

Image: Herakles discusses Boundary Issues with the Neighbours, 2007 from The Labours of Herakles series.