Maria Fernanda Cardoso’s ‘Spiders of Paradise’ to Open at QVMAG in Launceston

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery will present Maria Fernanda Cardoso’s ‘Spiders of Paradise’ at its Museum at Inveresk in Launceston from 5 September to 22 November 2026. The Tasmanian-exclusive exhibition brings together new works from the artist’s ongoing photographic series on Australian Maratus spiders, commonly known as peacock spiders, alongside the video work ‘On the Origins of Art I-II’ (2016).

Developed and toured by the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, the exhibition focuses on spiders that measure less than 5mm and are known for their vivid colours and elaborate mating displays. Cardoso’s large-scale photographs present individual Maratus species as detailed portraits, bringing their patterned abdomens and intricate forms into view at a scale far removed from their size in the natural world.

Each photographic work is made from more than 1,000 individual images. The composite process reveals fine variations of colour and form that would not be visible in a conventional photograph. For the project, Cardoso collaborated with photo-microscopy expert Geoff Thompson and entomologist Andy Wang from the Queensland Museum.

The exhibition’s moving-image component, ‘On the Origins of Art I-II’, presents the spiders’ courtship rituals at an immersive scale. The work shows their communication through dance and vibration, including the display of the brightly patterned abdominal flap. Together, the photographs and video connect scientific imaging with Cardoso’s wider interest in the relationships between nature, culture and science.

Born in Bogotá and based in Sydney, Cardoso works across sculpture, photography, installation, video and performance, using unconventional and organic materials. Her work has been exhibited at institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Gallery of Australia and Tate. The ‘Spiders of Paradise’ project developed from her interest in Australia’s invertebrate diversity and the creatures that remain largely unseen by the wider public.

QVMAG is owned and operated by the City of Launceston, with ongoing support from the Tasmanian Government. The institution operates the Museum at Inveresk and the Art Gallery at Royal Park, both in Launceston. ‘Spiders of Paradise’ will be shown at the Museum at Inveresk, where entry is free and opening hours are listed as 10am to 4pm daily.

An official launch, described by QVMAG as a free event, will take place on Friday 4 September from 6pm to 8pm at Queen Victoria Museum at Inveresk, 2 Invermay Road, Inveresk, Launceston. The event is scheduled for the evening before the exhibition opens to the public.