Why isn’t Woman and Child on display all the time? Doesn’t Shepparton Art Museum own it?
When the famed sculpture is posted on social media, The News has observed these questions that seem to gnaw the minds of Shepparton residents.
Fortunately, we have the answers.
Since its first showing at SAM over a decade ago, Australian artist Sam Jinks’ hyperrealist Woman and Child has captured the heart of the Shepparton community.
The response to her presence was so powerful that, with the outstanding support of the community, the funds were raised to acquire the work permanently for the SAM Collection in 2010.
SAM collections co-ordinator Sophie Varapodio said Woman and Child has since become an ever-present icon of Shepparton and SAM’s identities.
In the subsequent 10 years, Woman and Child has been displayed continuously in Shepparton and on loan around Victoria — an incredibly long time for an artwork, particularly for one made of such delicate materials.
The lifelike figures are made of silicone, silk, and hair — all of which are prone to deterioration when exposed to light and other environmental factors for extended periods.
“It’s important to remember that she is not made of steel – materially, she is as delicate and fragile as she looks and needs to be cared for,” Ms Varapodio said.
According to SAM, as an institution and as custodians of the artworks in their collection, it is their duty to ensure that all artworks are preserved to be part of the Shepparton community for generations.
Woman and Child was the centrepiece of their recent exhibition, Dance Me to the End of Love, and has been on display in the gallery for the past 12 months.
The artwork will now undergo some much-needed conservation work to preserve the condition of her silicone skin, restore hair strands, and any other work required to maintain her immaculate state before returning to their onsite collection storage facility, which is climate-controlled to preserve artworks.
The newborn baby being embraced by her elderly self, embodying life at its beginning and end, is undoubtedly beloved by many.
SAM believes the artwork resonates with people because they see themselves and their loved ones in its fragile and tender presence.
Ms Varapodio expressed her gratitude towards the community for feeling such a strong connection and sense of ownership and pride over Woman and Child.
She believes this sentiment can also be found in other artworks on display that reflect similar themes of birth, death, love, parenthood, and the idea of life after death.
“We hope people can use the time in which she is not on display to form other meaningful connections with our beautiful, interesting collection that will be featured in our galleries until she returns,” she said.
“Woman and Child is one work in an art collection that is made up of over 4100 objects – each of which have their own unique story to tell.”