Blockbuster exhibitions not to miss this summer
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It’s no secret that in Canberra, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to galleries.
Even so, sometimes a significant exhibition can slip through our busy radars. But this summer isn’t the time to let that happen. Here are seven not to miss.
Love and Desire: Pre-Raphaelite Masterpieces from the Tate
The National Gallery of Australia
John William Waterhouse The Lady of Shalott 1888 oil on canvas Tate © Tate
Late last year, The National Gallery of Australia unveiled the most ambitious exhibition of Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces ever shown in Australia.
Love and Desire: Pre-Raphaelite Masterpieces from the Tate brings to Australia an unprecedented collection of 19th Century works of art from London’s Tate Gallery.
The exhibition includes more than 100 works by 21 artists including loans from private collections and institutions in Britain and Australasia. It presents an exclusive insight into the rebellious and revolutionary world of the ground-breaking art movement.
Exploring themes of love and desire, modern life, literature and romance, myth, portraiture and the femme fatale, the exhibition also illustrates William Morris & Co’s lasting impact on design.
Love and Desire NGA John Everett Millais Ophelia 1851-2 oil paint on canvas Tate collection presented by Sir Henry Tate 1894 © Tate.
In a world-first, the Tate has temporarily parted with both John Everett Millais’ Ophelia and John William Waterhouse’s The Lady of Shalott to be shown together at the NGA. These destination paintings have never left the walls of the Tate at the same time – such is their star power – and it is an Australian first for them to be on show.
Ready to fall in love? Osher Gunsberg will host his Summer Lovin’ party on Saturday 19 January. It will be held in the NGA’s stunning Australia Garden where guests can purchase a traditional or posh picnic for this enchanting garden party with friends, food, entertainment, while they hear love advice from the country’s resident romance expert. The ticket price of $55 (or $75 for the posh picnic) includes exhibition entry.
Read more here.
Showing daily from 10 am – 5 pm until 28 April 2019 | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place, Parkes | nga.gov.au/lovedesire
Rome: City and Empire
National Museum of Australia
Courtesy of the National Museum of Australia. National Museum of Australia.
© Trustees of the British Museum
With over 200 incredible artefacts from the British Museum on display, the National Museum of Australia brings Ancient Rome to life this summer. With artefacts dating back 3,000 years, Rome: City and Empire strives to share the everyday life, war, glory and death alongside the story of how small villages transformed into a mighty empire that paved the way for modern democracy, mathematics, astronomy and philosophy.
Want even more Rome? The adults-only Rome Up Late event is the place to be. Click here for more details.
Portrait head resembling Cleopatra. Italy, 50–30 BCE
limestone©. Trustees of the British Museum
Media credit line © Trustees of the British Museum, 2018. All rights reserved.
Read more here.
Showing daily from 9 am- 5 pm until 3 February 2019 | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton | nma.gov.au/exhibitions/rome-city-and-empire
Cook and the Pacific
National Library of Australia
Cook and the Pacific. Image supplied.
Cook and the Pacific takes visitors on a journey through the three Pacific expeditions of Captain James Cook. The immersive exhibition dives into the astonishing pacific region, its cultural diversity and the stories of the First Nations people Cook met on his travels.
The family-friendly exhibition uses rare maps, books, paintings and manuscripts to breathe life into the stories of British voyagers. This 250-year-old story aims to bring history from Australia, Tahiti, New Zealand Hawaii and even Siberia in hopes of shedding light on Captain Cook’s travels in the Pacific Region.
Showing 10 am – 5 pm daily until 10 February 2019 | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra | nla.gov.au/exhibitions/cook-and-the-pacific
Heath Ledger: A Life in Pictures
National Film and Sound Archive
Heath Ledger. Credit: Karin Catt.
Heath Ledger: A Life in Pictures showcases one of Australia’s most acclaimed actors through the lens of both personal and professional objects. In memory of the late actor, a variety of rare and personal pieces are on display over summer to showcase his life and work with original costumes from his films including The Dark Knight and Brokeback Mountain.
Showing Monday–Thursday 9 am–5 pm, Friday 9 am–8 pm, weekends and public holidays 12–5 pm until 10 February 2019 | National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Crescent, Acton | nfsa.gov.au/events/heath-ledger-life-pictures-exhibition
Breaking Through: 75 years of Women in Parliament
Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
With women still only representing 1/3 of the Australian Parliament, the Breaking Through exhibition at the Old Parliament is an ode to all the hard working females throughout democratic history who paved the way for new generations.
To celebrate the past 75 years, the Museum of Australian Democracy has showcased the journies of 11 trailblazers and their strength, resilience and inspiration. This powerful and informative exhibition showcases their lives and achievements with never before seen portraits of parliamentary movers and shakers in hopes of inspiring the next generation of female powerhouses.
Want more? For families, MOAD offers Behind the Lines 2018, a look into the parliamentary circus through cartoon and PlayUP, an interactive, fun and immersive environment for families to educate young minds about Australian Democracy. A fun and vibrant space, these hands-on activities are sure to change up the traditional museum experience for little ones.
Showing daily from 9 am- 5 pm | Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, 18 King George Terrace, Parkes | moadoph.gov.au/exhibitions/breaking-through-75-years-of-women-in-parliament
20/20
National Portrait Gallery
Tan Le by John Tsiavis. Courtesy of National Portrait Gallery.
The National Portrait Gallery is exploding with events this summer but make sure to keep an eye out for some iconic Australian faces in the 20/20 exhibition.
20/20 showcases a suite of arresting new portraits commissioned to celebrate the National Portrait Gallery’s twentieth year. Portrait subjects – leaders and individualists invited by the Gallery – were been judiciously matched with artists, a synergy leading to the creation of distinctive contemporary artworks encompassing a variety of techniques and approaches to portraiture.
Showing daily from 10 am – 5 pm until 10 February 2019 | National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | portrait.gov.au/exhibitions/20-20-2018
Trevor Dickson
Canberra Museum and Gallery
Credit: Trevor Dickinson
Many Canberra suburbs are home to the distinctive concrete bus shelters designed by architect Clem Cummings in 1975. Nearly 500 shelters remain in place and over the past four years artist Trevor Dickinson has been on a quest to find and photograph every one.
Dickinson has selected over fifty of the most striking examples to draw and develop into digital prints. His collection reveals that every shelter has its own beauty and personality; and explores how these shelters shape Canberra’s unique suburban landscape.
Showing daily until 26 January | Canberra Museum and Gallery, Cnr London Circuit and Civic Square, Canberra City | cmag.com
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