Composing Objects probes the innate creative desire to arrange three-dimensional objects. Depending on personal taste, functionality or artistic intention, objects can be brought together for aesthetic display, as a utilitarian suite, to convey meaning or to be rendered as a still life. Throughout art history, objects have been arranged in endless compositions, according to everything from shape, colour and medium to decorative style, functional quality or symbolic potency. Ordinary or ornate, historic or contemporary, objects are conduits of cultural, social and artistic values, with meaning and significance ascribed according to who is viewing them and in what context.

Depending on your perspective, a singular object can have significance. When placed in proximity to another object (or collection of objects) however, a conversation is initiated revealing new connections, comparisons and ways of seeing and appreciating. Taking the simple idea of bringing objects into conversation as a starting point, Composing Objects showcases a selection of objects from Bendigo Art Gallery’s vast collection in various combinations including artworks comprised of multiple parts as well as still life paintings. This exhibition is part of Collective Visions: 130 years celebrating over a century of collecting at Bendigo Art Gallery.