#NGVI

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

2 months ago

a concrete pavilion with a thick column and wide roof is reflected in a walled pool, with three timber stools

outside views of a long low concrete pavilion in a park

three photographs of the central column supporting the circular roof of a concrete pavilion

The 2023 ninth #MPavilion in the #QueenVictoriaGardens opposite the #NGVI, this one permanent (until 2030) and designed by Tadeo Ando, famed Japanese architect working in concrete, water and light. 1/2

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

3 months ago

a painting of Venice by Renoir

two paintings, and details, of racetracks by Degas

two portrait paintings by Degas and one by Mary Cassatt

a painting of country trees by Corot and of woman and child on sunny grass by Renoir

#NGVI French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. A chocolate box of delights, as always slightly exhausting, but buoyed by the quality and tempered by no-nonsense excellence among the prettiness. 2/2

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

3 months ago

a painting by Monet of a field of poppies surrounded by green fields

paintings by Monet of a lily pond and a haystack, and by Eugène Louis Boudin of a beach

paintings by Henri Fantin-Latour of flowers and by Gustave Caillebotte of a fruiterer’s stand

paintings of country scenes by Vincent van Gogh, Paul Signac and Frits Thaulow

#NGVI French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. A spectacular final room of Monets proceeded by a chocolate box of delights, as always slightly exhausting, but buoyed by the quality and tempered by no-nonsense excellence among the prettiness. 1/2

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

3 months ago

three photos of a series of elaborately decorated temporary galleries

five photos of a series of elaborately decorated temporary galleries

two photos of a series of elaborately decorated temporary galleries

two photos of a series of elaborately decorated temporary galleries

#NGVI French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. To display the absolute treasure trove of C19th paintings the NGV had created an impressive series of ‘French’ interiors, though fortunately they couldn’t upstage the art!

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

4 months ago

painting of a landscape full of people and activity

details of a busy painting showing three crosses with men on them being tortured to death

details of a busy painting showing broken bones in the foreground, men fighting, and a covered cart

detail of a busy painting showing mountains in the distance - but also distant gibbets full of hanged bodies

#NGVI A quick C17th-C18th fave: Jan Brueghel’s Calvary (~1610), full of detail

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

4 months ago

two grand portraits of grand people

painting of a man being persecuted by two other men

three paintings of dead or dying saints and heroes

painting of civilised friends posed outdoors

#NGVI A few quick C17th-C18th faves: Anthony van Dyck portraits (~1634,~1640), Orazio Gentileschi (Caravaggio’s mate; this one in England years later, 1628-35); a collection of early C17th dead men by Luca Giordano, Nicolas Régnier & Jusepe de Ribera

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

4 months ago

six paintings of shopfronts

three large paintings and two pieces of furniture

general views of a fashion exhibition

various mannequins displaying fashions

#NGVI Contemporary highlights, including furniture & Italian fashion. 2/2

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

4 months ago

three geometrical paintings

1960s furniture

abstract and figurative paintings

abstract painting and screen, photos, and figurative painting

#NGVI Contemporary highlights, including furniture 1/2

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

7 months ago

photos of an expansive and upmarket cafe and a meal of pie and coffee

#Sydney Lunch at the #AGNSW member’s room, much classier than the cafe! (and the #NGVI & #NGVA!)

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

10 months ago

a view of a large framed structure

views inside a large framed structure, a man moves between spaces

views inside a large framed structure, with a smaller enclosed space

view of a large framed structure showing a smaller space within it

#NGVI 2024 Architecture Commission: Breathe’s Home Truth. A frame the size of the average Australian house (236sqm) contains a maze that eventually leads to a relatively modest 50sqm courtyard, the size of a possible small house, that feels like a comfortable refuge allowing contemplation.

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

10 months ago

austere but beautiful chairs

simple and integrated dresser made out of luscious timber with brass fittings

dark timber furniture using simple lines and a scalloped effect

pale timber furniture using simple but decorative lines and a scalloped effect; sumptuously decorative lamp, fruit basket and vase

#NGVI Furniture & applied arts: wonderful Quaker furniture, 1830-70; Adolf Loos’ 1903 furniture for the Langer apartment; Josef Hoffman’s 1913 furniture for the Gallia apartment. Also the fabulous Tiffany wisteria lamp, c.1905 & Jack-in-the-Pulpit vase, c.1913.

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

10 months ago

French woman; English woman; Anglo-French women

Spanish woman; English couple; Italian woman; French man

Italian micro-mosaic of a fruit bowl, and luscious details

German-French landscapes; Dutch sheep & video; American metronome sculpture

#NGVI Assorted eye-catchers from part of the permanent collection. (2/2)

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

10 months ago

Greek pot; Swedish gymnast

English garden lady; English wrapped corpse; Greek pot

English Oedipus; English king and slave

Greek pots

#NGVI Assorted eye-catchers from part of the permanent collection. (1/2)

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

10 months ago

Dancing Pumpkin, a huge shiny yellow sculpture with black dots along its multiple legs

Narcissus Garden, a sculpture comprised of many, many shiney metallic balls on the floor

Dots Onsession, a sculpture of large yellow spherical balloons with black dots, suspended in a grand space with a multicolour stained glass ceiling

a black and white artwork of fields turning into flying geese, and five small models showing variant transformations of house forms

#NGVI Went to see the Yayoi Kusama show but there was a 3hr wait so we checked out her free installations instead: Dancing Pumpkin, Narcissus Garden, Dots Obsession. There are also models for a previous exhibition: 2018 House(s) for Escher, by Oki Sato of nendo, plus Escher’s 1938 Day and night.

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

10 months ago

The entrance to the National Gallery of Victoria by day and by night

The Federation Square Metro Tunnel huge acoustic shed being dismantled, the cathedral spires behind them

the photobooth in a Smith Street Collingwood shop window at night

#NGVI day/night
#FedSquare tunnel shed is coming down!
#SmithSt photobooth

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

2 years ago

#NGVI Triennial: Yoko Ono ‘I LOVE YOU EARTH’ (1985 song, 2021 billboards)

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

2 years ago

Day/night comparisons outside the #NGVI (the Triennial) and #BuxtonContemporary

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

2 years ago

#NGVI #Bonnard The real revelation was the inclusion of work by Pierre’s contemporaries & friends Édouard Vuillard & Félix Vallotton, full of vigour, verve and acute psychological insight. And it was downright cruel to plonk a glittering Monet in the middle of the exhibition 😳 #realart

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

2 years ago

#NGVI #Bonnard He is great at producing very large decorative work - great if you’ve got a large new Parisian apartment to fill! (Not helped by these postage stamps.) And his self-portraits are unsparing.

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

2 years ago

#NGVI #Bonnard I really liked many of his mid and late paintings where he integrates his colour skill with structural form and intense observation. Sadly much, particularly his earlier work, is skumbly, fumbly & feeble. His drawings are embarrassing.

Chris

@chrismbr.bsky.social

2 years ago

#NGVI #Bonnard Large exhibition of Pierre Bonnard’s works - late impressionism - in innovative environments designed by India Mahdavi, reflecting the wallpapers so often seen in the paintings. Most fun was spotting some of the cats & dogs he included in his work & life.