Explore a world of twisted beauty at a new exhibition opening at the Museum of Geraldton on Saturday 11 June.

The Sixteen Legs travelling exhibition is based around the environmental and cultural significance of Australia’s deepest caves, and the still-living 200-million-year-old Tasmanian spider hidden within them.

Museum of Geraldton Regional Manager Leigh O’Brien said Sixteen Legs offers a journey through Australia’s deepest caves through a delightful mix of art and science.

“We are excited to bring this intriguing exhibition to Geraldton, where visitors will explore a hidden underground environment and the creatures that dwell there,” Ms O’Brien said.

The multi-media exhibition features photography, dark-fantasy digital artworks by Queensland artist Jodee Taylah and international best-selling author Neil Gaiman, large scale resin and fibre-glass sculptures, and community artwork, all overseen by two giant prehistoric spider replicas with 18-foot leg-spans and a giant spider egg-sac.

Bookend Trust Director Dr Niall Doran said Sixteen Legs was produced to tell a previously unknown story of incredible survival to the world in the form of a journey, and in a global context.

“It was also important to tell it in an innovative and fresh way, to draw in viewers beyond those that are typically already fans of natural history,” Dr Doran said.

“At a time when science, education and the environment are often caught in the political cross-hairs, we feel it is significant to bring to the world a tale that celebrates the fun and wonder of the world that preceded us and may still outlast us.”

This exhibition is produced by the Bookend Trust’s ‘Out of the Wilderness’ project, with tour assistance from the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia program.

Sixteen Legs is a free exhibition and will be on display at the Museum of Geraldton from Saturday 11 June to Sunday 14 August 2022.

Entry to the Museum is free; donations are welcome.

https://visit.museum.wa.gov.au/geraldton/sixteen-legs

Media contact:
Yoshika Kon
yoshika.kon@museum.wa.gov.au