NGV Australia at Federation Square reopening 23 November 2020

The National Gallery of Victoria announced that it will reopen The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square to the public on Monday 23 November 2020. Visitors will experience the premiere retrospective exhibition DESTINY, showcasing the work of one of Australia’s most respected artists Destiny Deacon.

“The NGV is delighted to reopen its doors to the public later this month. Many of our visitors have missed the gallery and we look forward to welcoming them back. The DESTINY exhibition is a not-to-be-missed solo survey, highlighting the poignant and humorous perspective of one of Australia’s most accomplished living artists, Destiny Deacon,” said Tony Ellwood AM, Director, NGV.

“The reopening of NGV Australia at Fed Square is a great moment for Victorians and heralds a fantastic season of art for us to enjoy. The gallery is a much-loved destination for people of all ages and these world-premiere exhibitions, alongside our incredible Australian art offering, are the perfect way to welcome visitors. At the same time, work continues over at the St Kilda Road gallery to prepare NGV Triennial for its December opening,” said Minister for Creative Industries, Danny Pearson.

“While the doors have been closed, Australia’s most popular gallery has continued to reach art lovers across the state, the country and beyond online and it is wonderful that virtual tours, talks and digital programs will continue so we can experience the magic of the NGV both onsite and at home.”

In line with Victorian Government health and safety guidelines, the NGV will reopen implementing a range of public health and physical distancing measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our staff and visitors to the gallery. The measures will include free pre-booked timed ticketing, appropriate queue management, hand sanitiser stations across the gallery and increased cleaning of facilities.

In her largest retrospective to date, DESTINY marks the artist’s first solo show in more than 15 years, featuring more than 100 multi-disciplinary works created over a 30-year period, including newly commissioned photography series Dolly Eyes 2020. The exhibition also includes acclaimed works such as Blak lik mi 1991 and a number of video works spanning Deacon’s career created with her long-time collaborator Virigina Fraser, the late Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi photographer Michael Riley and West Australian performance artist Erin Hefferon.

Free and open to the public, NGV Australia will also open with two new exhibitions; the largest exhibition of Tiwi art ever to be staged, TIWI and the premiere of solo retrospective Ivan Durrant: Barrier Draw. Visitors will also be able to explore other exhibitions including Top Arts 2020, Marking Time: Indigenous Art from the NGV and some of the NGV’s most popular Australian art works from the NGV Collection.

TIWI, the largest presentation of Tiwi art ever staged will showcase works from 1911 to the present day, consisting of almost 300 works by over 70 artists. The exhibition presents 153 works rigorously selected from the NGV Collection, alongside 130 historical and contemporary works by artists from the Tiwi Islands’ most significant cultural institutions: Jilamara Arts & Crafts Association, Munupi Arts & Crafts Association, Tiwi Design and Ngaruwanajirri.

Ivan Durrant, a leading exponent of photorealism, and natural raconteur will be celebrated in a major survey paying tribute to five decades of his extraordinarily diverse career since the 1970s. Ivan Durrant: Barrier Draw is the most comprehensive survey of Blairgowrie based Durrant’s work to date, featuring over 100 multi-disciplinary works.

DESTINY, TIWI and Ivan Durrant: Barrier Draw will be open on November 23 and also be available to experience online through virtual tours, curator led video tours, new reading and digital public programs viewable on NGV Channel on the NGV website.

Free timed tickets to visit NGV Australia at Federation Square will be available to book from Monday 16 November. For more details on NGV’s reopening and to book free timed tickets, please visit the NGV website ngv.melbourne.

DESTINY virtual tour and video tour: Available on NGV Channel 23 November

NGV International will reopen with its world premiere summer blockbuster exhibition, the free NGV Triennial on December 19, 2020. Presenting 86 projects of large-scale international contemporary art, design and architecture by more than 100 artists, designers and collectives from more than 30 countries, the NGV Triennial explores some of the most globally relevant and pressing issues of our time, including isolation, representation and speculation on the future.