margaret worthington

In May 2021 Sue Smith, Art Collections Manager for Central Queensland University (CQU) curated a comprehensive exhibition and authored a book ‘Land Air Sand Sea Spirit Margaret Worthington 40 years in Queensland’ at CQU Gladstone Campus. During this exhibition Allan (Kiwi) Andrew and I discussed collaborating on an exhibition inspired by Curtis Island. We had been flying over the island for many years, fascinated by the shapes and patterns of the landscape. After Kiwi’s tragic death in late 2021, I continued the Curtis Island project deciding to focus on the Cape Capricorn Lighthouse and the marine plains to the north of this lighthouse. In February 2022 I flew over the area in a helicopter to have a detailed look. 

The Tropic of Capricorn lies slightly north of Curtis Island and just above Heron Island. My interest in mapping and my use of mapping symbols in my paintings led me to expand my area of interest to include the Capricorn Cays, the Keppel Islands, and the Capricorn coast.

Coral Cay an interactive, immersive, multimedia installation is part of this exhibition and enhances this exploration, depicting 24 hours on a coral cay and features footage photographed at Heron Island.

In April 2022 with Regional Art Development Funding, I attended Parrtjima, a light festival in Alice Springs, Northern Territory. In exploring the desert landscapes, I noticed that the Tropic of Capricorn lies north of Alice Springs. 

After this festival, I flew to Sydney to see the Maps of the Pacific Exhibition at the New South Wales State Library. This was interesting and serendipitous. I loved the development and design of the maps and a wonderful mosaic on the entrance floor to the State Library gave me the title for this exhibition.

This exhibition explores my interest in maps and mapping and the fabulous diverse landscapes, flora and fauna found in the vicinity of the Tropic of Capricorn in Central Queensland and the Northern Territory.