A velvet ant, a flower and a bird

A velvet ant, a flower and a bird evoked a garden of knowledge anchored by three familiar figures from nature — a velvet ant, a flower and a bird. These figures represent a parliament of beings, each carrying symbolic and metaphorical weight that encourage us to reimagine what intelligence means.

Each museum floor was presided over by one of these natural entities, creating a kind of garden where there is no pre-established order, but rather an ecosystem in which the analogue and the digital interrelate to give rise to a fantastic mental realm.

Drawing from the University of Melbourne’s Classics, Biology, and Art collections, alongside new commissions and performances; historic and contemporary art co-mingled to envision intelligence as living, continually evolving, interconnected and interdependent.

Guest curated by Professor Dr Chus Martínez, Head of the Institute of Art Gender Nature at the FHNW Academy of Arts and Design, Basel, Switzerland.

The continuous creation of life purposes

Art Museum Papers 03 by Chus Martínez

Art Museum Papers is a new publishing series from Buxton Contemporary and the Potter Museum of Art that extends the conversations sparked by our exhibitions, residencies and research programs.

Issue 3: The continuous creation of life purposes by Chus Martínez

This is one of three Papers commissioned by Art Museums at the University of Melbourne on the occasion of A velvet ant, a flower and a bird presented at the Potter Museum of Art (19 February–6 June 2026). The other Papers are written by Laura Tripaldi and Neha Choksi.

Edited by Pippa Milne and Linda Michael. Designed by Paul Mylecharane for Common Room

Available for purchase at Buxton Contemporary or Potter Museum of Art.

$10 or 3 Art Museum Papers for $25.

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Exhibition Floors

Learn more about the natural entities presiding over each floor

A velvet ant, a flower and a bird Commissions

Read about the works commissioned exclusively for the exhibition

Meet Miles Howard-Wilks

An Arts Project Australia artist whose long-standing fascination with animals and the natural world comes to life through his latest series.

Past Events

The giant flower festival: Opening program for A velvet ant, a flower and a bird

Join us for The giant flower festival - a series of free public events celebrating the opening of A velvet ant, a flower and a bird.

INTELLIGENCE: Interdisciplinary Forum

Inspired by the Potter Museum of Art's current exhibition, A velvet ant, a flower and a bird, this year's Interdisciplinary forum interrogates intelligence.

After Hours: Untying knots in the sky

A new monthly event series inviting you to experience the gallery differently

After Hours: A Velvet Ant & Untying Knots In The Sky

A new monthly event series inviting you to experience the gallery differently

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Supporters

This exhibition was made possible by

Pro Helvetia: Swiss Arts Council, Danish Arts Foundation, Swedish Arts Council, Embassy of Spain in Canberra, Oxenford Collection, Institute Art Gender Nature, Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW and TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary.