A kaleidoscope of pop culture lands at the NFSA

Posted on 12 December, 2025

The National Film and Sound Archive is hosting the Australian premiere of this spectacular installation by internationally acclaimed video artist Marco Brambilla.

Beyoncé in a shimmering gown. Leonardo DiCaprio mid-smirk. Audrey Hepburn’s iconic elegance frozen in time. Now imagine all of them colliding in a single, mesmerising video artwork that pulses with the energy of a thousand films at once.

That’s the essence of Heaven’s Gate, and Canberra is the first Australian city to experience it.

The artist behind the kaleidoscope

Brambilla is internationally recognised as a leading figure in contemporary video art, celebrated for his pioneering use of digital imaging technologies and immersive moving-image installations. His work hangs in major collections worldwide and has been exhibited everywhere from MoMA to the Guggenheim.

Heaven’s Gate represents the latest chapter in his ambitious Megaplex series – a trilogy of works exploring spectacle, excess and our collective obsession with celebrity culture. After premiering at Frieze New York in 2021, the installation has toured some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including Art Basel Miami, Montreal’s PHI Centre, London’s Outernet Arts, and the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas.

Now it’s our turn.

Step into the spectacle

Through intricate digital collage, Brambilla layers references to gaming, news, cinema and reality television, creating what Alice Taylor, Creative Producer & Program Coordinator at the NFSA, describes as “a hyper-saturated parallel universe.”

‘Marco Brambilla’s dazzling work is like a kaleidoscope of pop-culture iconography,” she says.

“Heaven’s Gate explores collective storytelling, concurrently celebrating and satirising the glamour of celebrity and golden age Hollywood.”

It’s the kind of work that you’ll want to see more than once. Each time you look, you’ll spot new references, new connections, new layers of meaning in how Brambilla has assembled this commentary on fame, glamour and our media-saturated world.

Summer at the archive

Heaven’s Gate runs until 9 March 2026, giving Canberrans plenty of time to experience it across the summer months. Whether you’re a contemporary art enthusiast, a film buff curious about new ways of engaging with cinema, or simply looking for something thought-provoking to do on a warm afternoon, this installation offers something genuinely different.

The installation is completely free to experience, with no bookings required. Just turn up during opening hours –10 am to 3 pm daily, including weekends. There’ll also be extended Friday and Saturday evening sessions from 6 pm to 8 pm between 9 January and 21 February.

While you’re there, Dom’s – the NFSA’s refreshed deli and bar – makes it easy to extend your visit. The installation will also complement the return of the popular Hot Summer Nights film and live music series [link to article when published]. See you there?