Ling Ang: On TarraWarra and being a TarraWarra Contemporary

Filmmaker and visual artist Ling Ang recently created a stunning new film capturing what she sees at Tarrawarra Museum of Art. Filled with atmosphere and soft light, Ling presents the gallery as an ethereal being, nestled among the rolling landscape of the Yarra Valley.

We sat down with to find out a little more about Ling, her vision of the Museum and why being a TarraWarra Contemporary is so important to her.

What do you think it is that makes TarraWarra so special? 

I think the main things that draw me to TarraWarra is its location and architecture. The Museum’s space and nature surrounding it gives me such a sense of peace. Then there’s the way the works are displayed in conjunction with the space – that is very special. It’s a haven for art lovers –especially those who may be inner city dwellers, like myself – and leaves me wondering ‘What else does greater Victoria have hiding out there?’

What motivated you to produce the film? 

I’m a visual storyteller and really wanted to share how what I see in TarraWarra. I thought it’d be interesting to try and encapsulate the feeling it gives me in the present – something that resonates even for those who have visited before and may have already seen visual imagery of the Museum.

Can you tell us a little about how the film was produced? 

I started by working on the initial vision with my friend and fellow filmmaker, Lucian Clifforth, who also has a background in architecture. I wanted to see how to best interpret the space and felt that he’d be able to help me visualise the way that light and time almost lead us through TarraWarra Museum of Art. An ephemeral being we follow, instinctively.

After the first shoot, I approached TarraWarra about returning with a drone. The second round of shooting, involved Avian UAS to help us get the beautiful bird’s eye shots of the Museum and its surroundings on beautiful Wurundjeri Country. To finish off the film, I brought on long time collaborators, Hamish Mitchell who created a score to give us that extra magic. To polish off the edit, Red Stevenson graded and stitched the scenes together.

What does being a TarraWarra Contemporary mean to you? 

It gives me the opportunity to support contemporary artists and their work, and also allows me to learn how fellow artists are creating in current times. There’s never one kind of way to support an artist and their needs – often there may be a combination of resources needed to help them execute their practice.

I feel it’s important to stay up to date with how we can support future visions and being a part of TarraWarra Contemporaries encourages us to do this. It also brings together a whole community with fresh perspectives, which helps to envision new ways of supporting the creation of contemporary art.

Learn more about becoming a TarraWarra Contemporary and support an independent, not for profit Museum to commission new artworks 

Video created by TarraWarra Contemporary, Ling Ang, for TarraWarra Museum of Art.

0:23 Clement Meadmore, ‘Awakening’ 1968, Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gift Program by the Julliard Group 2012, TarraWarra Museum of Art collection, Copyright Meadmore Sculptures, LLC/VGA, Licensed by Viscopy 2020