I know this is not entirely related to my internship, but I really want to write about my recent visit to the National Gallery of Victoria to see Napoleon. If anyone has a chance to get down there before it finishes, go and see this exhibition.
It is sensational.
Napoleon is possibly one of the most beautifully designed exhibitions I have seen in a long time. The beautiful portraits and battle scenes of Napoleon and his fellow Frenchmen are exquisite. The layout of the exhibition is similar to the recent AGNSW Picasso show - chronological and relies heavily on historical narrative. This doesn't detract from the paintings of David et al., instead adding more depth and allowing a greater understanding and appreciation for this defining era in modern French history. In addition, Napoleon managed to link with local history, regarding the newly discovered New Holland (Australia). Battlefields and portraits of aristocrats are broken up with delicate sketches of native flora and fauna, as well as artifacts from the former residence of Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife, Josephine. Not a single detail was forgotten in this magnificent blockbuster; fleur-de-lis adorned the white walls creating a subtle wall print (an artwork in its own right), adding to the overall theme of the exhibition. Even the cafe's and the upstairs Tea Room weren't forgotten in the French overhaul of the Gallery; they had special table settings and monogrammed serviettes.
C'est magnifique!
Hi Emily,
ReplyDeleteMelbourne sounds amazing. What a fastastic exhibition.
Last week I also went to Brisbane (QAG) to view the 'Prado: Portrait of Spain' exhibition which was great too. Besides the fantastic works on display (El Greco, Valequez etc) there were some great public programs and activities which accompanied the exhibition. Just like your fluer-de-lis, QAG had set up a Spanish tapas/ sangria bar (for exhibition ticket holders only) inside the gallery. Spansih guitar was being played and a 10m arrangement of fresh friut and veg was set up so that the audience could create their own spanish inspired still life drawings (either on paper or on an i-pad and the drawing could be emailed to yourself).
Reading about your experience after my weekend in QLD, I am so impressed at the lengths that galleries go to to ensure the audience has a very engaging, dynamic and well-rounded exhibition experience.
QAG sounds like it's hosting a wonderful exhibition - I really want to try and get up there to see it! It is remarkable to see the extent to which some museums will go in securing the attention of their audiences! Much like NGV, QAG seems to have really taken it to the next level by enabling this blockbuster to totally consume the gallery! Part of me thinks that while AGNSW always produces amazing blockbuster exhibitions, they seem to fall short when compared to these other Australian institutions. Would you agree they perhaps need to step it up like their inter-state sister museums?
ReplyDeleteWow, the NGV never ceased to amaze, will have to check it out when I'm down there in a couple of weeks time.
ReplyDeleteHi Em!
ReplyDeleteSounds awesome, I'll try to get down there!
I love the tea room there. It was so great to have a sit down after going through the exhibition i saw last year (mostly because i went with my mother and she spends on average 3 hours in an exhibition).
Linking back to your most recent post, do you know what kind of cafe/restaurant they're going to have at your rural museum?
I don't think they're that far ahead yet re: the cafe... I hope it's like the NGV, the tea room there is fantastic!
DeleteThat sounds fantastic. It reminds me of the time that I have seen the exhibition, Vienna: Art & Design, last year. It was greatly curated show, in result of enormous research on art and design in Vienna of the beginning of twentieth century. Gustav Klimt's inarguable painting was beautiful and the show also made relation with the local through exhibiting NGV's own collections, mostly domestic design works done in early twentieth century.
ReplyDeleteWhat I thought after I saw the show (also after I have read your journal and other's comments) is that I hope there would be more chances for the exhibitions to travel around in Australia.