'Always Modern: Radical Nurture' Exhibition at Heide Museum of Modern Art

The Heide Museum of Modern Art in Melbourne is currently hosting a significant exhibition titled 'Always Modern: Radical Nurture'. Curated by Lily Mora, this exhibition delves into the rich archives of her late grandmother, the acclaimed French-born Australian artist Mirka Mora. It offers an exploration of the artists who comprised the Heide Circle, a group pivotal to the development of Australian modernism. Featuring over 60 works from both the Heide collection and Mirka Mora's estate, the exhibition is on display until August 9.

Exhibition Overview

'Always Modern: Radical Nurture' centers on the unique artistic environment at Heide and its profound impact on Australian modernism. The exhibition showcases a diverse range of artists, including works by Mirka Mora, Charles Blackman, Joy Hester, Sidney Nolan, Albert Tucker, Sam Atyeo, and Danila Vassilieff. Its primary aim is to meticulously examine how the specific conditions and supportive atmosphere at Heide were instrumental in fostering the development of modern art in Australia.

The Heide Circle and Its Patrons

The Heide Circle comprised a community of influential artists who regularly gathered at Heide, originally a dairy farm owned by John and Sunday Reed. This property became much more than a home; it served as a vital hub for creative collaboration and mutual support among the artists. Mirka Mora herself was an active member of this dynamic community throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

John and Sunday Reed provided crucial support to artists by collecting their works, offering accommodation and food, and extending financial assistance during significant years for Australian modernism.

Lily Mora, the exhibition's curator, shares a deep personal and family connection to Heide. Her grandparents, Mirka and Georges Mora, cultivated a 30-year friendship with John and Sunday Reed after their arrival in Australia in 1951. Her father, William Mora, was also a gallerist, and Lily Mora reportedly visited Heide since childhood, fostering a lifelong connection to its legacy.

Themes and Featured Artworks

The exhibition deeply explores themes of motherhood and care, offering a unique lens through Mirka Mora's perspective as an artist and a Holocaust survivor. Mirka Mora's art frequently incorporated powerful mother and baby motifs. She was widely recognized for prioritizing her artistic practice and identity, notably aiming for her children to perceive her as an individual first and a mother second. Mirka Mora passed away in 2018 at the age of 90.

Key works prominently featured in the exhibition include:

• Joy Hester's poignant portrait of her son, Sweeney, created while she was experiencing lymphoma symptoms. Sweeney was later adopted by John and Sunday Reed.
• Sidney Nolan's iconic 'Head of Rimbaud'.
• Charles Blackman's self-portrait and his experimental cardboard cutouts, which he initially conceived as toys for his children and later explored as a significant artistic medium.
• Drawings Mirka Mora gifted to John and Sunday Reed, beautifully depicting their shared summers and friendships.

The exhibition vividly highlights the strong sense of community, enduring friendships, and shared artistic values that bound together the artists associated with the Heide Circle.