Melbourne NOW – a first look
NGV’s new summer blockbuster, Melbourne Now, is bringing hundreds of artists to the state gallery – many for the first time. Tracy Pham tells you more about this free exhibition.
Melbourne Now opened to curious visitors last week. The new exhibition is a snapshot of this creative city and explores the ways Melbourne has influenced artists and designers.
It is the largest and most ambitious project the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has ever undertaken, literally bringing together hundreds of artists from different mediums.
As its name suggests, Melbourne Now will showcase dynamism occurring ‘now’, right in this moment, right as you read this, in Melbourne, across art, design, fashion, film, dance and architecture.
Melbourne certainly has a thriving, varied arts scene, making it an excellent candidate for the title of Australia’s cultural capital. Expect the unexpected at this exhibition as Melbourne’s artists forge new paths and help to create a new world in the process.
The project is so big, curators have designed a free app and ebook to help visitors navigate the more than 175 individual and group presentations.
The exhibition will surprise and reward visitors again and again, and what is even more exciting is that it’s all free.
Melbourne Now runs until 23 March 2013 at the NGV and The Ian Potter Centre. More than 600 free events and workshops for adults and children will be held throughout the exhibition. You can catch the artists speaking about their work every Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit the NGV website.