Spring

Transitions, moods and optimism

Spring contemplates states of seasonal transition, reflecting on the optimism around cultural notions of springtime. Spring in Melbourne / Naarm is windy, unpredictable and the weather changes easily. The local Indigenous people, the Wurundjeri, aptly map springtime conditions in Melbourne / Naarm between August and November – a time that reflects fast-paced changes in weather conditions – three seasons rather than one: Guling, Poorneet and Buath Garru.

Springtime is about renewal, seasonally associated with warmer weather, blossoming flowers and the bursting forth of new growth. In our everyday life Spring events are the markers of society, embedded in the Australian psyche. Exploring RMIT’s collections Spring presents a broad range of multidisciplinary work spanning the nineteenth and twentieth centuriesfocusing on the influence that this seasonal interlude has on our social and emotional states.

Rupert Bunny’s Shelter II promotes an idyllic scene of lavish celebration, with pale greens and subdued pinks that recall a sunny spring day in the countryside. Paired with contemporary sculptural forms by Kate Rohde and Susan Flavell, and shown alongside bright, abstract paintings by Yuendumu artist Judy Napangardi Watson, Spring curatorially links Australian sensibilities, reflecting on the change that seasonal transitions can bring.

Works of art and design are from the RMIT’s cultural collections including the RMIT Design Archives, the University Art Collection, the Australian Film Institute Research Collection, RMIT Archives and rare books. They demonstrate the rich diversity of art, design and social history prominent in RMIT’s expansive cultural holdings.