Go Figure

Since humankind first recorded ochre handprints in ancient caves, the human form has been an inspiration to artists. Go Figure: Faces and Forms draws upon the Museum’s Permanent Collection to show how the body has been interpreted and presented across media and time. Whether represented in a painterly or abstract manner, artists have found inspiration in the human form often showing movement, emotion and connection. Proud portraits, wooden puppets and studies of the traditional subject — the female form — reveal the artists’ creative desire to express the self and the other. The faces and figures in this exhibition span decades and artistic styles and demonstrate the essence of humanity and the many experiences of life.