The Australian landscape and way of life has long inspired artists in their work. From outback symbolism to cultural poignancy, Australian art continues to highlight the beauty, diversity and depth of this great brown land. For more than a decade, the privately funded TarraWarra Museum of Art has presented modern Australian art – dating from the second half of the 20th century to the present day – in a variety of displays, exhibitions and installations.
It was around this period in time, the 1950s and onwards, that museum founders Eva and Marc Besen began actively pursuing their love of fine art and amassing quite a collection. They decided to share their passion with the general public by opening a new space in the heart of the Yarra Valley – a charitable entity established purely for the adoration of visual art, which today has become a cultural jewel in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges region.
Beyond simply wandering and wondering about the intriguing pieces that adorn the walls, there are a number of ways to get interactive at the museum too. Children's workshops, guided tours of current exhibitions, lectures by leaders in the field and cultural festivals with live music, gala dinners and hands-on masterclasses are all known to pop up throughout the calendar year.
The atmosphere at TarraWarra gets under your skin in the best possible way. From the architectural contours to the clean, contemporary openness, you can sense that everything in the museum serves a purpose. Time in your visit with the TarraWarra Biennial, which sees its fourth iteration in 2014, and discover why this nationally regarded event grows bigger and better each time around.
