Curate Your Own Adventure

I am exploring Melbourne this long weekend with a wonderful group of friends. One of our first stops was the NGV. While I have visited the NGV numerous times to see travelling blockbuster exhibitions, I have rarely ventured higher than the ground floor to see what else is on offer. Granted, I am usually exhausted from spending hours in one exhibition. So this was a great opportunity to get a glimpse into the collection and see how the more permanent exhibition spaces have been curated. Fortunately for us, these spaces had works from the Triennial on display (will expand on this later). Due to time restrictions, we only visited the 3rd floor. Here are my personal highlights.

Entrance Foyer

In the middle of the entrance foyer are two large bronze sculptures by artist Thomas J Price, a British contemporary artist. They are on display for the Triennial, an exhibition showcasing the works of 120 contemporary artists, designers, and collectives. I had seen these sculptures online and was so disappointed to learn that the Triennial was only on until 7 April. Needless to say, it was a surprise when we entered and the statues were there. They are amazing to see in-person.

Through these sculptures, Price has created something that looks familiar (a Western-style sculpture) with a message of prejudiced representation. While they are not based on one particular individual, they combine stereotypical representations and artist observations. According to the statement on the NGV website, ‘together they [the statues] confront the lack of people of colour represented in public statuary’ (source). Their presence cannot be ignored.

Level 3 Highlights

I thought this was the only Triennial work we had seen during our visit but I was glad to see that the next couple are part of the festival too. Just goes to show that my observation skills while reading labels isn’t always the best!

Colonialism and Abstract Art, 2019, Hank Willis Thomas

This was my favourite artwork we saw during our visit. The base of this artwork is a 1936 Cubism and Abstract Art graphic designed by Alfred H. Barr Jr., original founding director of the Museum of Modern Art. Thomas has taken this poster and overlayed it with socioeconomic, cultural and political events that have informed/existed/intersected with some of these movements. The result is this more complex and thought-provoking work that you could spend hours reading and following. What really stood out to me about this is how it challenges the ‘neatness’ of these types of visuals and reminds viewers that categories and time periods are complex.

Ouroboros, 2023, Heather B. Swann

Another fantastic Triennial work that stood out to me while walking around was Ouroboros by Heather B. Swann. It is a striking 3m wide statue carved from wood, leaning against the wall. Ouroboros can be linked to Celtic, Egyptian, Greek, and Viking cultures and is usually depicted as a dragon or snake eating its own tail. In the sculpture, its a human. It’s meant to represent the circle of life and death but, according to the label, add an additional meaning of self-destruction and regeneration.

Propagate, 2023, Jaydan Moore

The final Triennial work I want to mention is Propagate by Jaydan Moore. Large shiny objects still work to capture my attention. This one is a combination of serving platters dating from the 1920s to 1980s soldered together. As viewers, these platters could stir up memories or feelings of nostalgia. For me, I was more focused on the aesthetics of the work and the patterns created from the different platters joined together.

To die upon a kiss, 2011, Fred Wilson

I have an absolute knack for finding and enjoying works relating to death. This stunning chandelier represents transformation, referencing the history and presence of Africans in Venice. It also references the destruction of the body during death. I really like the juxtaposition of something usually regarded as just an aesthetic item now with a much deeper meaning.

Portrait of Renee Delmas de Pont-Jest, 1875, Louise Abbema

I want to finish with something completely different. This portrait is of Marie-Louise-Renee nee Delmas de Pont-Jest – a good friend of the artist. Why I selected this painting in particular is because of the emotion. I’ve been trying to look at art more slowly and digest what I’m seeing. This was a great work to practice on as you can focus on her facial expression and what emotion that might convey. Also is she finishing her writing and removing the pen or bringing the pen back in to write more/correct something.

I hope you enjoyed reading about these works and the Triennial in general!

Logistical Information

The NGV is open 10am – 5pm daily and is free entry. There are some great accessibility resources on their website: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/triennial/access/.

I am not sure when the Triennial works will be removed but safe to say, it luckily wasn’t 7 April.