Must-see summer exhibitions around Australia
It’s official: Australia has captured the world’s attention when it comes to providing groundbreaking art and design experiences.
It’s no surprise then that international galleries are vying to have their collections shown down under.
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For Australians, this means blockbuster exhibitions are no longer confined to a single event once a year – they’re running all year round, all across the country.
With the summer break the ideal time to explore what our galleries have to offer, take respite from the hot weather and enjoy a viewing without the crowds.
Victoria
The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk
What: Explore the unconventionally dazzling and playfully irreverent creations of French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier in the first international exhibition dedicated to his expansive oeuvre of work.
Where: National Gallery of Victoria
When: Until 8 February 2015.
Cost: Adult $22, concession $18, child (5-15 years) $10.
Where to stay: South Yarra’s The Olsen, a member of the Art Series Hotel Group, offers a cosmopolitan base to explore the rest of Melbourne’s art scene starting with the unique pieces covering the walls of each room. Book here.
Australian Capital Territory
James Turrell: A Retrospective
What: The work of internationally renowned American light artist James Turrell, presented in a landmark exhibition of built spaces that are delightfully unnerving to the naked eye.
Where: National Gallery of Australia
When: Until 8 June 2015.
Cost: Adult $25.50, concession $20.40 (timed entry, bookings required).
Where to stay: Hotel Hotel, created in collaboration with a number of local designers and artists. Hotel Hotel takes inspiration from the quintessential Australian shack and brings it into the present day. Book here.
New South Wales
Pop To Popism
What: As part of the Sydney International Art Series, Pop To Popism features works from over 45 lenders worldwide – including the Tate Modern and Andy Warhol Museum – in a heady survey of Pop Art’s explosion across the cultural scene of the 1960s.
Where: Art Gallery of New South Wales
When: Until 1 March 2015.
Cost: Adult $20, concession $16, child (5-17 years) $10.
Where to stay: Apartment One offers a slice of contemporary Sydney living and a refreshing alternative to staying in a hotel, but still allows for privacy and all the glamour of staying in the harbour city. Book here.
Queensland
Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion
What: For lovers of eastern innovation, GOMA canvases the transformation of Japanese fashion from the 1980s until now. It showcases over 100 garments from influential minds including Issey Miyake and Rei Kawakubo.
Where: Queensland Art Gallery – Gallery of Modern Art
When: Until 15 February 2015.
Cost: Adult $21.50, concession $17.50, child (under 12 years) free.
Where to stay: Limes Hotel in Fortitude Valley offers stellar architecture, modern rooms and a rooftop bar. All you need. Book here.
South Australia
Fashion Icons: Masterpieces From The Collection Of The Musee Des Arts Decoratifs, Paris
What: Contemporary fashion design and Parisian style come together in a retrospective of couture across the decades. Includes over 90 garments created by the world’s leading fashion designers from one of the most comprehensive French fashion collections in the world.
Where: Art Gallery of South Australia
When: Until 15 February 2015.
Cost: Adult $25, concession $20, child (5-11 years) $5.
Where to stay: The Watson, another offering from the Art Series Hotel Group, merges leafy Walkerville with self-contained suites inspired by the work of Aboriginal artist Yannima Pirkarli Tommy Watson. Book here.
Western Australia
Treasures Of The Jewish Ghetto Of Venice
What: Recently unearthed and restored, artefacts hidden during the Nazi period by Venetian Jewish religious leaders – who never returned from the concentration camps – are now on show to mark the 500th anniversary of the Jewish Ghetto of Venice.
Where: Art Gallery of Western Australia
When: Until 16 March 2015.
Cost: Free.
Where to stay: Novotel Perth Langley, perfectly positioned amongst all of Perth’s amenities and sights. Book here.
Tasmania
Matthew Barney: River Of Fundament
What: Part literary adaptation and part exploration of man’s place in the world, Matthew Barney presents a series of multimodal artworks designed to stagger and please.
Where: Museum of Old and New Art
When: until 13 April 2015.
Cost: adults $25, concession $20, child (under 18 years) free.
Where to stay: For the full MONA experience, spend a bit more time exploring the entire collection and then cap it off by staying at one of the gallery’s pavilions for the night. Book here.
And a bit further afield…
New York: Madame Cezanne at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Until 15 March 2015.
London: Rembrandt: The Late Works at The National Gallery. Until 18 January 2015.
Paris: Jeff Koons at Centre Pompidou. Until 27 April 2015.
Denmark: Olafur Eliasson at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Until 1 April 2015.
