After months of anticipation, ‘David Lynch: Between Two Worlds’, the first exhibition in Australia to explore the 50 year career of the acclaimed American artist and filmmaker, opens exclusively at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art this Saturday 14 March.

‘Between Two Worlds’ is the largest survey to date of works by the Los Angeles-based artist who will visit Australia for the first time in conjunction with the opening weekend.

Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) Director Chris Saines said it was a major coup for Brisbane to host the artist during his first ever visit to Australia.

“Between Two Worlds’ explores David Lynch’s entire practice as an artist and filmmaker, spanning painting, photography, printmaking, industrial design, music and the moving image. Featuring over 200 works across all media, the exhibition is sure to surprise Australian audiences not yet familiar with Lynch’s broader artist practice and is an exciting opportunity to see works never before shown in Australia,’ said Mr Saines.

QAGOMA Senior Curator José Da Silva, curator of ‘David Lynch: Between Two Worlds’, said visitors can expect to discover Lynch’s deep love of mysteries.

‘This is an exhibition about the transcendent power of the imagination and about an artist who loves a mystery, particularly one that leaves room to dream. Three ideas underpin the arrangement of works across seven galleries – ‘Man and machine’; ‘The extra-ordinary’; and ‘Psychic aches’ – and demonstrate the possibility of finding a deeper reality in our everyday existence,’ said Da Silva.

The exhibition, showing exclusively at GOMA until 7 June, also includes film screenings held onsite at the Gallery’s Australian Cinémathèque, including Lynch’s 10 feature films and nine programs of shorts and experimental works, alongside selected documentaries and works for television. The short film Scissors 2007 also screens continuously in Cinema B as part of the exhibition.

‘Between Two Worlds’ is supported by Principal Partner Tourism and Events Queensland, Official Airline Partner Virgin Australia, and Media Partner Triple M. Mr Lynch’s travel to Australia was supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

The opening weekend includes two sold out events – a performance by David Lynch’s collaborator, US songstress Chrysta Bell, on Friday night, and an In Conversation with beloved Australian film critic David Stratton held in association with the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) on Saturday afternoon.

As part of his first ever visit to Australia, Lynch will host a Master Class for local students which will be broadcast to 11 regional and remote venues.

Two special musical projects have been commissioned for the exhibition and will premiere at GOMA in April. Reflecting the enduring influence of Lynch’s work, the performances include two concerts by USA experimental band Xiu Xiu, who will reimagine the music of Twin Peaks, and a collaborative project called HEXA, who will create a new soundscape responding to Lynch’s extensive archive of factory photographs shown in the exhibition.

A series of after-hours illustrated talks from expert academics held monthly during the exhibition will consider the broad scope of Lynch’s practice, from his experimentation with sound and narrative devices to his long-term dialogue with art history. On Saturday 11 April the Gallery will play host to a Twin Peaks trivia night, followed by a special 25th Anniversary screening of the TV show’s pilot episode.

Held on the final three Fridays of the exhibition, Lynch by Night will give visitors after-hours access to ‘David Lynch: Between Two Worlds’, with talks, tours, dining, bars and an ambient backdrop of sounds from Australian performers. The award winning GOMA Restaurant is also open on Friday nights from 5.30pm – late. Tickets $20 Adults / $16 Concession and available online.

A full-colour 176 page exhibition catalogue accompanies the exhibition and features over 200 images illustrating Lynch’s wide-ranging oeuvre, new portraits by Los Angeles-based photographer Just Loomis, and an interview with the artist.

‘David Lynch: Between Two Worlds’ is exclusive to Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art 14 March – 7 June 2015. Tickets to the exhibition, film screenings and special music events are on sale now. Exhibition tickets Adults $15, Concession $12. Booking fees apply to all tickets purchased in advance. For more information please visit www.qagoma.qld.gov.au.

Head #3; Head #15; Head #6; Head #2 (from the series ‘Small Stories’) 2013 / Gelatin silver print on Baryta paper / Courtesy: David Lynch and Item éditions / © The artist