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Autumn 2006
Welcome to the second NGV Contemporary newsletter for 2006
This year is already proving to be a lively and exciting one for the Arts in Melbourne. We would all agree that Festival Melbourne2006 and the 2006 Commonwealth Games offered a terrific and varied cultural program over the 11 day period of the Games. You can still see 2006 Contemporary Commonwealth, at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia until 25 June. This is a fabulous exhibition featuring painting, sculpture, textiles, film, video, craft and installation work by artists from around Australia and countries across the Commonwealth.
For those of you who joined us at the 2006 Contemporary Commonwealth symposium held for visiting international and local exhibiting artists, we hope you enjoyed the lively debates and hearing the insights into the artists’ practice. There are still a few tours and talks to come as part of the program, so please view the What’s On page for details.
Another NGV contribution to the Festival Melbourne2006 and the 2006 Commonwealth Games arts program is the William Kentridge: 7 Fragments for George Méliès exhibition on show on the ground floor of NGV International. Kentridge is an internationally acclaimed South African artist and his celebrated work 7 Fragments for George Méliès was acquired for the NGV’s collection with funds raised from last October’s NGV Contemporary Fundraising Party.
Jason Smith, NGV Curator, Contemporary Art, escorted NGV Contemporary supporters on a private viewing of William Kentridge: 7 Fragments for George Méliès followed by reserved seats at the first (of three) screening of 9 Drawings for Projection on Monday 20 March. It was a very special evening and we acknowledge Festival Melbourne2006 and the 2006 Commonwealth Games for their support in making it possible. If you have not yet had a chance to view this show, its on until 21 May and well worth the visit.
This year NGV Contemporary will host a number of informative and entertaining events so please view the calendar and put the dates in your diary. If you have any initial queries, please contact Deborah Hart on 8620 2413 or deborah.hart@ngv.vic.gov.au.
You will notice that the format of the NGV Contemporary newsletter has altered to fast track to articles and information. This new format has been designed to read more easily on screen, but we’d be interested to hear your feedback.
We hope you enjoy this newsletter and look forward to seeing you at forthcoming events.
 Yinka Shonibare
Reverend on ice (2005)
From the moment he first exhibited paintings that subverted the authority of modernism through their witty interpretation of the modernist grid and use of riotous colour, Yinka Shonibare’s politicised practice has been informed by his position as a Nigerian-British artist. Combining the cultural influences of his early years in Nigeria, and England, his current home, Shonibare’s paintings, photographs and installations meditate on structures of power and question notions of (the desire of) the ‘other’, while knowingly implicating both the artist and his audience through their often ribald humour and particularly, their seductive beauty.
As many members of NGV Contemporary will know, Yinka Shonibare is one of the international artists currently exhibiting in 2006 Contemporary Commonwealth where he is represented by two major works: the film Un ballo in maschera (A masked ball) (2004) and his most recent sculpture, Reverend on ice (2005). For the inspiration for this work, Shonibare turned to the iconic painting, Skating minister (The Revd Robert Walker (1755-1808) skating at Lochend, Edinburgh) (c1798-99) which has been attributed until quite recently to the late 18th-century Scottish portraitist, Henry Raeburn (1756-1823). Like his previous appropriation of works by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Thomas Gainsborough and William Hogarth, Shonibare’s use of what is arguably the most popular work of art in the Scottish national collection enables him to interrogate issues of race, class, and, (given the vocation of the protagonist of this work) the relationship between organised religion and colonisation, within the accepted and glorified canons of western art.
We are delighted to announce that Yinka Shonibare’s Reverend on ice is the next major acquisition to be supported by NGV Contemporary and that fundraising for this wonderful sculpture will be the focus of the 2006 NGV Contemporary Fundraising Dinner.
Yinka Shonibare, born England 1962, lived in Nigeria 1965–84
Reverend on ice 2005
fibreglass, cotton (Dutch wax), leather, wood and steel,
145.0 x 125.0 x 145.0 cm (figure)
Collection of the artist, courtesy of James Cohan Gallery, New York
© Yinka Shonibare, courtesy of James Cohan Gallery, New York
 Deborah Halpern: Angel
10 May – 23 July 2006
Deborah Halpern’s Angel is a celebratory, festive and arresting work. Intended to astound, provoke and uplift, it is a grand creative gesture.
In 1999 Angel was removed from public display to undergo necessary conservation treatment and to facilitate redevelopment works at the NGV’s St Kilda Road site. Following a decision by NGV Trustees in consultation with the artist and the City of Melbourne it was decided Angel would be relocated to the north bank of the Yarra at Birrarung Marr when the treatment was completed. This will be a spectacular new site for what is one of Melbourne’s most loved and iconic works of art.
To coincide with the return of Angel, the National Gallery of Victoria is celebrating Halpern’s career with a survey exhibition at NGV Australia opening to the public on 10 May.
The exhibition includes work from the 1980s to the present and includes; early wheel-thrown forms, hand built sculptural works and a large group of her more recent, larger sculptures that have been constructed using glazed ceramic tiles on a steel and fibreglass armature.
Over her 27 year career Halpern has produced an astonishing body of work and has endeared herself to Melburnians through her numerous public sculptures. Her work continues to be fresh and fun and to have a wide appeal.
Deborah Halpern, born Australia 1957
Angel 1988 (detail)
ceramic, steel, concrete,
924.5 x 992.5 x 351.5 cm
Commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria in collaboration with The Australian Bicentennial Authority and with the assistance of a number of generous sponsors, 1989
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
© Courtesy of the artist and Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne
 Design in the Spotlight
By Jane Devery
In June this year the National Gallery of Victoria presents the fourth Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award. A generous legacy of the late Colin Rigg (1895 – 1982), a former Trustee and Secretary of the Felton Bequests’ Committee, the award focuses on contemporary design practice in the state of Victoria. Arguably the most prestigious award of its kind with a prize of $30,000, the Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award reflects the Gallery’s continuing support for, and commitment to, contemporary design and craft.
In previous years, the exhibition has focussed on ceramics, metalwork and textiles. In 2006, the exhibition is dedicated to contemporary jewellery. encompassing a wide range of approaches to making, the exhibition draws together works by 19 Melbourne jewellers. Reflecting the strength and diversity of contemporary jewellery practice in Melbourne, the group represents a cross generational mix of. merging and internationally established artists. Stylistically and conceptually diverse, works in the exhibition display a variety of approaches from traditional gold and silversmithing techniques to playful transformations of unconventional materials and works that challenge ideas about what jewellery is, and what it can be.
In 2006 the participating artists are Roseanne Bartley, Nicholas Bastin, Susan Cohn, Simon Cottrell, Marcos Davidson, Julia De Ville, Mari Funaki, Stephen Gallagher, Kiko Gianocca, Kirsten Haydon, Marian Hosking, Carlier Makigawa, Sally Marsland, Mascha Moje, Jessica Morrison, David Neale, Tiffany Parbs, Dan Scurry, and Blanche Tilden. Previous recipients of the award were Neville Assad-Salha in 1994 for ceramics, Robert Baines in 1997 for metalwork and Louise Weaver in 2003 for textiles. The winner of the 2006 Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award will be announced in June.
Jane Devery is Assistant Curator, Contemporary Art & Exhibitions
Principal Sponsor Myer
Tiffany Parbs
gesture 2005-06
sterling silver,
19.0 x 13.5 x 6.0 cm
© Courtesy of the artist, photograph: Terrence Bogue
NGV Contemporary Events
9 May 2006
Official opening of Deborah Halpern: Angel
6 June 2006
Official opening of The Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award 2006
6 June – 27 August 2006
15th Biennale of Sydney, Zones of Conduct
NGV Contemporary Art Curators Kelly Gellatly and Jason Smith will be going up to Sydney for the 15th Biennale of Sydney, Zones of Conduct. NGV Contemporary supporters are welcome to join them for the following special program of events.
Program:
Tuesday 6 June – 8.30am to 10.00am – a walk through of the AGNSW component with Charles Merewether
Wednesday 7 June – the official opening night party at Pier 2/3
Thursday 8 June – Afternoon drinks at 2 Danks Street with talks from associated Gallerists and artists
Special Offer:
NGV Contemporary supporters have been offered access to the Biennale’s Friends program for a special price of $200 (incl GST). This represents a $50 savings and offers the following benefits:
– 2 passes to preview the exhibition on Wednesday 7 June
– 2 tickets to the Artists Party at Pier 2/3 on Wednesday 7 June
– One complimentary copy of the 300-page, fully-illustrated exhibition catalogue
To register your interest for the trip and the Biennale’s special offer, please contact Deborah Hart on 8620 2413 or deborah.hart@ngv.vic.gov.au
2 – 6 August 2006
Melbourne Art Fair
We will join AGNSW’s CCB group for this special program:
Wednesday 2 August – Vernissage, tickets are $125pp and Collectors Packages are available for $200pp.
Thursday 3 August – View Picasso: Love and War 1935 – 1945 at NGV International (details tbc) and Jon Cattapan's work at The Ian Potter Museum of Art, The University of Melbourne (details tbc closer to the time).
Friday 4 August – Visit selected galleries around Melbourne, followed by an exclusive viewing of a private collection (details tbc closer to the time).
23 August 2006
Clemenger Contemporary Art Award 2006 – spend an hour previewing the show with Pat Brassington, one of the judges of the Award and Jackie Redgate, an artist featured in the exhibition before the official opening.
16 November 2006
Howard Arkley Retrospective – join us in the morning for the press preview and launch of both the catalogue and a major new publication from Cambridge University Press, and again in the evening for the official opening of the exhibition.
26 October 2006
NGV Contemporary Fundraising Party
29 November 2006
Juan Davila – Enjoy a preview and floor talk with NGV Curators of Contemporary Art, Kelly Gellatly and Jason Smith before the official opening.
November 2006
Queensland Art Gallery – We welcome expressions of interest for a trip up to Brisbane to view the new contemporary art spaces. Please let us know if you would like to come.
More Programs
The NGV offers many public programs for contemporary art. Contact Deborah Hart on 8620 2413 or deborah.hart@ngv.vic.gov.au for priority reserve bookings.
Browse programs at NGV Australia
Browse programs at NGV International
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