Triennial at the National Gallery, Melbourne

Triennial was the most recent show stopping exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. My diary has been so busy lately that I nearly considered giving this exhibition a miss, but at the eleventh hour a friend invited me and thank goodness she did! Triennial was superb, albeit different to my usual tastes, but it would have been a shame to miss this thought provoking collection of global art.

We made the journey into the city bright and early as Triennial was a FREE exhibition and has been extremely popular. We arrived right on opening time and seamlessly dashed through most of the exhibition, only having to queue right at the very end for Yayoi Kusama’s Flower Obsession – the most instagrammable part of the exhibition that drew in the most viewers. What was most fascinating about Flower Obsession, is that you actually receive a flower to place anywhere in the room, so the art installation has grown daily since it first began. We went towards the end of the season and the room was decorated from floor to ceiling with flowers.

YAYOI KUSAMA Flower Obsession

Triennial surveys the world of art and design, across cultures, scales, geographies and perspectives, showcasing the work of over 100 different artists and designers. I loved the eclectic nature of the exhibits – film, painting, sculpture, music, fashion design, drawings, and performance. It felt like a wild adventure as you zigzagged through three levels of galleries seeking out weird and wonderful Triennial exhibits that were fused with the permanent collection, also providing a new perspective of the classic pieces.

RON MUECK Mass

I prefer more classic art, so one of the great elements of Triennial was that you still traversed the whole gallery, frequently passing your favourite pieces on your way to the next display. I adore the International collection of 19th Century art, possibly because it reminds me of Tate Britain, my favourite gallery to visit in London. 

Edwin Landseer – Scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Titania and Bottom

These were two of my favourites, Hal by Azerbaijani, Faig Ahmed, and PixCell-Red Deer by Japanese, Kōhei Nawa.

Kōhei Nawa, PixCell-Red Deer

Faig Ahmed, Hal

After an early start, we left the gallery to discover the most glorious warm day with bright skies and a gentle breeze. Perfect for a wander and some lunch along Southbank. Melbourne is absolute magic when the sun is shining.

If you enjoy beautiful exhibitions, there are plenty more to explore in the events menu.

Or if you would like to see what the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has coming up next, check out their website. Melbourne is so lucky to host some of the most diverse and exciting exhibitions in the world.