artonline 60 February 2006

Events and exhibitions

For event bookings email eventbookings@nga.gov.au or call +61 2 6240 6504. Events are in the James O Fairfax Theatre unless otherwise advised.

Exhibitions

detail: India early 18th century Collected Indonesia, Ceremonial cloth and sacred heirloom Conserved with the assistance of Brian O'Keeffe AO and Bridget O'Keeffe AM; Gift of Michael and Mary Abbott 1988

Coming soon
Crescent Moon: Islamic art & civilisation in Southeast Asia
24 February – 28 May 2006
nga.gov.au/CrescentMoon

Crescent Moon reveals the sophistication and splendour of Islamic courts in the Southeast Asia archipelago. Royal heirlooms recall a past when wealthy courts, enriched by the spice trade, competed to demonstrate divine blessings through earthly power and material luxury. Lavish ceremonies of the life cycle, such as circumcisions, weddings and funerals, were testimonies of faith and power when displays of fine gold and silver royal regalia and invincible weapons of state, encrusted in precious stones, dazzled the audience.

Sign-interpreted tour
Sunday 26 February 2pm
Auslan sign-interpreted tour of the exhibition Bookings essential +61 2 6240 6519

detail: John Constable 'Harwich Lighthouse' c.1820 oil on canvas, Collection of Tate Britain

Coming soon
Constable: impressions of land, sea and sky
3 March – 12 June 2006
nga.gov.au/Constable

This exhibition will provide an opportunity to see around 100 works by Constable, including Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s Grounds 1822–23, A boat passing a lock 1826 and The Vale of Dedham 1827–28, as well as many of his remarkable cloud and sea studies.

Member's opening
Saturday 18 March 6pm
Join Dr Anna Gray and John Gage, coordinating curators, for insights and a tour of the exhibition, followed by wine and canapés. $40 members and their guests. Bookings essential

detail: Kenneth MacQueen 'Summer sky' c.1935 watercolour, pencil, Collection of the National Gallery of Australia

Coming soon
Australia and Constable
3 March – 12 June 2006
nga.gov.au/AustraliaandConstable

Such is the power of Constable’s art that it has inspired a range of Australian artists: Hans Heysen, Conrad Martens, Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, Howard Taylor, Philip Wolfhagen, Kenneth MacQueen and Lesley Duxbury, among others. It is for this reason that in Australia we are presenting a second exhibition alongside Constable: impressions of land, sea and sky, called Australia and Constable, which will include examples of the works of some of these Australian artists, and one New Zealand artist, Toss Woollaston.

Events

'I Cento Passi [The hundred steps]' 2000

Multicultural Film Festival
Windows on Europe
12 – 17 February
nga.gov.au/mff

Prepare yourself for a cinematic trip around Europe. The 2006 Multicultural Film Festival delivers comedy, political comment and social drama from Europe’s hottest young filmmakers. Presented in collaboration with the Tradies Multicultural Festival and the European Union.

$7 National Gallery of Australia Members/Concessions/Multicultural Film Festival card holders :: $10 others Bookings essential

Wednesday 15 February
Meisje [A girl]
Thursday 16 February
Slepa Pega [Blind spot]

Friday 17 February
Sz`ep Naok [Pleasant days]
Mein Bruder des Vampir [Getting my brother laid]

Sculpture Garden Sunday
Sunday 5 March 10.30am – 12.30pm
nga.gov.au/SculptureGarden

Bring a picnic lunch and take part in a family morning of fun art-making workshops and the Sculpture Garden Children’s Trail with gallery educators and voluntary guides.

This event is subject to weather conditions.

Gallery shop textiles

A beautiful collection of framed silken and beaded textile fragments from Indonesian traditional textiles will be available from the Gallery shop to complement the Crescent Moon exhibition. Prices range from $400 to $3,000.

Textiles are the main form of artistic expression throughout the entire Indonesian archipelago. They were used as emblems of prestige, rank and wealth; fostered fertility; were connected with trade and traditional gift exchanges; and were symbols for agricultural productivity and seasonal renewal.

Gallery shop open 7 days 10am–5pm
visit ngashop.com.au or phone +61 2 6240 6420

Conservation at the National Gallery of Australia
nga.gov.au/Conservation

detail: Albert Tucker 'Martin Smith' 1946, oil on composition board, Collection of the National Gallery of Australia

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