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Home Arts View |
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The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia |
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November 2002
Volume 3, Issue 2
The countdown is on for one of the largest cultural events on
Victoria's calendar for 2002 - the opening of The Ian Potter
Centre: NGV Australia, at Federation Square.
NGV Director, Gerard Vaughan, said the new home of Australian
art would open later this year. NGV Australia will provide a
unique opportunity for Australians to see, enjoy and learn about
their own art in a fresh way and a new context.
"NGV Australia will be a place where visitors can view the Australian
story and learn more about our culture and our values. It will
be a must-see place for every Victorian, as well as every tourist
who comes to the State, and indeed Australia."
Dr Vaughan said NGV Australia would feature works drawn from
the Gallery's 22,000 strong Australian collection, displayed
over 20 gallery spaces on three levels.
"For the first time, the NGV will have four dedicated gallery
spaces for Indigenous art, to be located on the ground floor."
Dr Vaughan said a highlight of the new Gallery would be the
inclusion of multimedia technology.
"The NGV will be a world-leader with the inclusion of multimedia
as part of the architectural design, to help enhance the visitor
experience."
For example, multimedia screens throughout NGV Australia will
provide easy access to information on building orientation,
temporary exhibitions, the permanent collection, conservation,
the Gallery's What's On program and group and school tours.
"Multimedia will also be used from time-to-time inside the Gallery
spaces in suitable situations, to help bring the art to life."
This inclusion will allow visitors, for the first time, to access
substantially more information about a work than the information
included on traditional labels - although Dr Vaughan said even
the accompanying labels at NGV Australia will have a new look.
The NGV has introduced an Australian-first student labels project
in which school students throughout Victoria are being invited
to write labels for works. The student labels will appear underneath
the traditional label. The program is a joint initiative with
the Department of Education and Training.
"The NGV's education team has been visiting schools during the
past few months to develop the first round of labels while teaching
students about the new Gallery. It has been a wonderful opportunity
for Gallery staff to connect with students and members of regional
and suburban communities and talk to them about their state-owned
collection."
Dr Vaughan said one of the topics regularly raised in discussions
about the new Gallery was the design of the NGV Australia.
"We all know that we have one of the great art museum buildings
of our time, not just in the Australian context, but in international
terms."
"During the construction phase, Federation Square has generated
heated debate. When visitors come on site, they will quickly
realise that the Square, including the sensational NGV Australia,
is of exceptional quality. The feedback we had during our recent
sneak preview was universally positive. Everyone, young and
old, loved the building."
Dr Vaughan said a number of activities were being planned in
the lead up to the opening as well as the opening weekend, including
a star-studded gala party which is expected to be the biggest
social event of the year.
NGV Deputy Director, Frances Lindsay, who has responsibility
for the Australian collections, has released details of NGV
Australia's first exhibition, Fieldwork, which focuses
on Australian art since 1968, drawn largely from the NGV's immense
collection.
Ms Lindsay said the title pays homage to the famous exhibition, The Field, which was the first show on display at the National
Gallery of Victoria's new St Kilda Road building back in 1968.
"NGV staff are now busy preparing for the opening of the new
Gallery. Installation teams are working around the clock, while
systems continued to be tested, and staff trained in the management
of the new building," Ms Lindsay said.
"It's a busy time, but the opening of NGV Australia, will most
definitely be worth the wait. Every visitor will be amazed by
the design of the building and the fresh way in which the collections
are presented."
The NGV's international collection, which is the best collection
of international art in the southern hemisphere and one of the
finest in the world, will go on display at the former St Kilda
Road Gallery, to be known as NGV International in October 2003.
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia was designed by
Peter Davidson and Don Bates, Lab Architecture Studio,
in association with Bates Smart Melbourne. It is part of
the Victorian Government's $400 million Federation Square project, designed by Lab + Bates Smart. |
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