Forget everything you think you know about pirates – the new exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ballarat is set to unveil a more surprising history of piracy. Celebrating the rich lives and the diverse crews aboard traditional pirate ships, the exhibit, Under the Black Flag, hopes to excite audiences with tales and imagery of pirate adventures.
As well as a series of pirate-inspired contemporary pieces, the exhibition showcases Sally Smart’s pirate collages. Created as part of her series The Exquisite Pirate, these pieces depict female pirates as a metaphor for gender and identity inequality.
In addition to the gallery’s display, the exhibition features a series of interactive pirate-themed programs aimed to involve and excite kids, including pirate stories, pirate-inspired parrot art, exploring street art, and making pirate telescopes.
Curator of the exhibition and gallery director Louise Tegart says that many of the artists in the show drew inspiration from the liberated nature of pirate stories. “The playful nature of these works, and the serious concerns that they explore, set the tone for this exhibition. It works on different levels – we explore this odd corner of popular culture with some fun and engaging works, but for those who look a little deeper, it does take on some very serious concerns.”
Under The Black Flag is free to view. See the full program for kids, or check out more at the website.