HOT: Masterpieces from the Hermitage: The Legacy of Catherine the Great, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

NGV Hermitage11 735x1024 HOT: Masterpieces from the Hermitage: The Legacy of Catherine the Great, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Melbourne Winter Masterpieces have been bringing some fantastic international exhibitions to brighten Melbourne’s winters since 2004. This year the National Gallery of Victoria is hosting Masterpieces from the Hermitage: The Legacy of Catherine the Great, which features over 400 selected pieces from the collection of one of the world’s largest, oldest and most-visited museums in the world, the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg.

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This exhibition has been described as the greatest exhibition the Hermitage  has undertaken abroad and it is part of their 250 anniversary celebrations. I got a sneak peek today at the media preview. Melbourne, you’re in for a treat!

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The works on show at the NGV include paintings from masters such as Velasquez, Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian and Van Dyk to drawings, decorative arts, Catherine’s personal effects and paintings from the prized Walpole collection, all bought and collected by Catherine over 3 decades as a patron and innovator of the arts in the 18th century.

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It was through the collection of these works and Catherine the Great’s exceptional vision that the Hermitage was founded.

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While the big names will no doubt be the drawcards, my favourite moments in the whole exhibition included…

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Francesco Francia’s drawing of Sacrifice with Bacchus, with its lush textures and detail achieved with only brown ink and a pen….

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NGV Hermitage12 1024x680 HOT: Masterpieces from the Hermitage: The Legacy of Catherine the Great, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

…the intense blue of the Sevres porcelain in the Cameo Service commissioned by Catherine and…

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…the detail in the mirror of the thirty-two piece Chinese toilet service which was a wedding gift to Catherine.

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The exhibition design is also notable, with lush hues, architectural details and antique furniture inspired by the grandeur of the Hermitage’s rooms.

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I particularly loved the parquetry flooring and the Chinese wallpaper, which covered even the electrical switches!

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Make time to watch the immersive video that transports you to wintery Russia and takes you inside the through the gallery.

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The exhibition is not just about admiring excellent pieces of Western Art. Mikhail Dedinkin, the Deputy Head of the Department of Western European Art at the State Hermitage Museum, described it best ‘The Hermitage helps people find their own history and contains some of the greatest examples of the genius of mankind. The collection spans all centuries, all countries and all countries under one roof.’

Masterpieces from the Hermitage: The Legacy of Catherine the Great is an opportunity to see but a part of the Hermitage’s grand collection right on our doorstep. Don’t miss it!


 

Masterpieces from the Hermitage: The Legacy of Catherine the Great, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Friday 31 July – Sunday 8 November 2015  10am-5pm

Tickets on sale from ngv.vic.gov.au

Adult $26 | Concession $22.50 | Child $10 |

Family (2 adults, 3 children) $65

 

HOT: Open House: Tromarama for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Open House Tromarama for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 17 HOT: Open House: Tromarama for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Open House: Tromarama for Kids is NGV International’s newest children’s gallery exhibition which isn’t just child’s play. Indonesian contemporary art collective Tromarama (Febie Babyrose, Herbert Hans and Ruddy Hatumena), have truly built a house of fun for young and old alike!

Open House Tromarama for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 1 HOT: Open House: Tromarama for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Open House Tromarama for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 9 HOT: Open House: Tromarama for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

The fantastical space features five fully furnished rooms – a kitchen, dining room, courtyard, bedroom and bathroom. The whole house comes to life and there are lots of unexpected surprises to explore.

Open House Tromarama for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 5 HOT: Open House: Tromarama for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Open House Tromarama for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 7 HOT: Open House: Tromarama for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Start off in the bathroom and very comfy pillow-lined bedroom, where you can learn to make simple stop motion animation movies.

Open House Tromarama for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 4 HOT: Open House: Tromarama for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Just take some toys from the bathtub, find a backdrop you like, use the touch screens to take photos  and off you go!

Open House Tromarama for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 6 HOT: Open House: Tromarama for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Move into the lush garden with the flower wall which reminded me of the . Pity the flowers aren’t real!

Open House Tromarama for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 10 HOT: Open House: Tromarama for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

In the garden you’ll find that pink flamingos talk and cheeky garden gnomes chat back with your voice!

Open House Tromarama for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 11 HOT: Open House: Tromarama for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

The kitchen is the most restful space, with stacks of ceramic crockery (thankfully stuck together and to the benches) and it shows a delightful animation of dancing plates and cups.

Open House Tromarama for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 2 HOT: Open House: Tromarama for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

The highlight of the interactive experiences has got to be the disco dance floor. Look up and you’ll see a complete dining room setting, which means you’re dancing on the ceiling!

Open House Tromarama for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 12 HOT: Open House: Tromarama for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Like Darren Sylvester’s dance floor for the Melbourne Now exhibition this room will definitely be a drawcard.

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Open House: Tromarama for Kids is a must-see on your next to visit the gallery and it will be sure to delight and surprise kids and adults alike. Come out and play!

Open House: Tromarama for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Saturday 23 May – Sunday 18 Oct

Open 10am–5pm

Closed Tuesday

Free entry

Brick Man Experience – The Complete Collection by Ryan McNaught – Giveaway!

logo 1024x835 Brick Man Experience The Complete Collection by Ryan McNaught Giveaway!

Are you a LEGO family? I am! So I’m excited that for the first time ever Ryan “Brick Man” McNaught, one of only twelve LEGO Certified Professionals in the world and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere, will exhibit his remarkable collection of over 50 original LEGO works at the Brick Man Experience – The Complete Collection by Ryan McNaught.

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The exhibition includes all of Ryan’s works, such as the 4m long “Elvis” Erikson Aircrane Helicopter and the 250,000 brick “Love Boat”, plus behind the scenes stories, original drawings and sketches. I’ve seen some of Ryan’s pieces on display at Brickvention and they’re spectacular!

In addition to Ryan’s pieces, for the first time anywhere in the world works from other LEGO Certified professionals will be displayed, based around the “Transport” theme from their native country.

There will also be a chance for visitors can participate in building their own masterpiece!

Brick Man Experience – The Complete Collection by Ryan McNaught

Melbourne, The Exhibition Hall, Crown Conference Centre, Tue 31 Mar – Sun 12 Apr

Sydney, Sydney Town Hall (Lower) Sat 27 Jun – Sun 12 Jul

Tickets via brickmanexperience.com.au

Giveaway! Thanks to Brick Man Experience – The Complete Collection by Ryan McNaught I have 3 double passes (2 adults valued at $69.80 ) to give away for any session during the Melbourne season Tue 31 Mar – Sun 12 Apr.

To win comment below with which session (date and time) you’d like to attend. The competition closes midnight Monday 30 March winners will be selected randomly. Good luck!

 

HOT: The Artisan Bakery & Bar, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015, Queensbridge Square, Southbank

The Artisan Bakery Bar Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015 Queensbridge Square Southbank 1 HOT: The Artisan Bakery & Bar, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015, Queensbridge Square, Southbank

The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (Saturday 28 February – Sunday 15 March) is kind of like my idealised version of Christmas (lots of eating without the present traumas) which makes the Artisan Bakery & Bar the ultimate Christmas Village, a place to celebrate some festival cheer.

The Artisan Bakery Bar Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015 Queensbridge Square Southbank 2 HOT: The Artisan Bakery & Bar, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015, Queensbridge Square, Southbank

The Artisan Bakery Bar Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015 Queensbridge Square Southbank 3 HOT: The Artisan Bakery & Bar, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015, Queensbridge Square, Southbank

The Artisan Bakery Bar Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015 Queensbridge Square Southbank 6 HOT: The Artisan Bakery & Bar, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015, Queensbridge Square, Southbank

Every day until Sunday 15 March, from 7:30am to late, head down to Queensbridge Square on Southbank to sample delicious bread-based wares from Peter Rowland as well as a rotating calendar of local and international bakers producing their most famous baked goods, including Éric Kayser (Maison Kayser, Paris) and Justin Gellatly (co-founder of London’s Bread Ahead).

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I ‘accidentally’ inhaled one of Justin Gellatly ‘s famous doughnuts for breakfast and oh my god…I have to say it was one of the best doughnuts I’ve ever had. Spongy, fluffy and dripping with salted caramel cream with a shard of crumbling honeycomb on top.

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Apparently guest baker’s products have been selling out every day by 10am so I’ve diarised Éric Kayser‘s visit (Tuesday 10 March and Wednesday 11 March) in the hope that he’ll turn out some of his famous eclairs.

I was also invited by Peter Rowland sample some of Artisan Bakery & Bar’s mostly Victorian menu.

We started off with little pots of Irrewarra Sourdough’s granola, some fluffy and tart Victorian yoghurt and homemade fresh fruit compote.

The Artisan Bakery Bar Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015 Queensbridge Square Southbank 9 HOT: The Artisan Bakery & Bar, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015, Queensbridge Square, Southbank

Then the carb-loading began, with wooden boards containing a selection of Irrewarra Sourdough and Woodfrog Bakery’s bread, Mount Zero olives, Milawa cheese, Mytleford butter and picles and condiments by Peter Rowland ($20 each).

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Then a selection of tartines ($14) – basically fancy open-toasted. Nothing better than melted cheese on bread! Our selection included double smoked leg ham, heirloom tomatoes, pickled red onions and chutney…

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…sauteed mushrooms and onion jam…

The Artisan Bakery Bar Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015 Queensbridge Square Southbank 7 HOT: The Artisan Bakery & Bar, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015, Queensbridge Square, Southbank

….pulled beef, corn relish and pickled gherkins.

The Artisan Bakery Bar Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015 Queensbridge Square Southbank 10 HOT: The Artisan Bakery & Bar, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015, Queensbridge Square, Southbank

To end was Tivoli Road Bakery’s out of this world fruit loaf – a light fruit-studded bread almost akin to Christmas cake – plus a selection of Milawa cheeses plus Tivoli Road’s famous salted caramel and lemon curd doughnuts.

The Artisan Bakery Bar Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015 Queensbridge Square Southbank 15 HOT: The Artisan Bakery & Bar, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015, Queensbridge Square, Southbank
The Artisan Bakery & Bar is not just a place to eat and imbibe – there are workshop classes running onsite too, including free Little Foodies baking classes for children. Spaces for adult and kids classes are limited and bookings essential.

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The Artisan Bakery & Bar, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015, Queensbridge Square, Southbank

7 days a week 7:30am-late until Sunday 15 March

HOT: Where the Wild Things Sing by Black Hole Theatre, Summersalt Outdoor Arts Festival 2015, Southbank

Where the Wild Things Sing Summersalt Arts Festival 2015 Southbank 11 HOT: Where the Wild Things Sing by Black Hole Theatre, Summersalt Outdoor Arts Festival 2015, Southbank

Summersalt is Melbourne newest arts festival centred around Southbank’s Dodds Street/Sturt Street area, with five weekends of art, dance, music and theatre in February.

I bought tickets to ‘Where the Wild Things Sing’ which was billed as an ‘urban safari through the streets of Southbank where opera and puppetry collide in an adventure full of surprises’.

The hour performance was certainly a surprising experience, not least of which it introduced me to some beautiful street art and buildings in an area that I’ve often visited but never really explored fully.

Where the Wild Things Sing Summersalt Arts Festival 2015 Southbank 10 HOT: Where the Wild Things Sing by Black Hole Theatre, Summersalt Outdoor Arts Festival 2015, Southbank

There were about 30 adults and children on our family-friendly performance of the show and I very much enjoyed an hour of kookiness and unexpected encounters accompanied by some beautiful singing. The evening (non-family-friendly) performances are apparently ‘naughtier’ with adult themes and are for people 15+ years.

The 60 minute experience was led by raconteur Bernard Caleo who, along with series of mermaids, guided the group to a series of intimate performances in unexpected places.

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Where the Wild Things Sing Summersalt Arts Festival 2015 Southbank 2 HOT: Where the Wild Things Sing by Black Hole Theatre, Summersalt Outdoor Arts Festival 2015, Southbank

Where the Wild Things Sing Summersalt Arts Festival 2015 Southbank 9 HOT: Where the Wild Things Sing by Black Hole Theatre, Summersalt Outdoor Arts Festival 2015, Southbank

I won’t reveal too much but the roll call included a gorilla, giant maggots barbecuing, a panda reading a pamphlet, tiny surreal sculptures, a bed-bug ridden beardy man and some crazed synchro swimming in a tub.

Where the Wild Things Sing Summersalt Arts Festival 2015 Southbank 1 HOT: Where the Wild Things Sing by Black Hole Theatre, Summersalt Outdoor Arts Festival 2015, Southbank

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The whole surreal experience made me laugh, kept me fascinated and made me look at my surroundings in a new light.

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Tickets are $5 from Melbourne Recital Centre and numbers are strictly limited for their last performances on Friday 20 February and Saturday 21 February.

Where the Wild Things Sing by Black Hole Theatre, Summersalt Outdoor Arts Festival 2015, Southbank 

Family performance Sat 21 Feb 3pm

Evening Performances (for 15+ years
, adult themes) Fri 20 Feb 8.30pm

Tickets $5 each. 

The HOT List: Where to celebrate Chinese New Year 2015 in Melbourne

DSC05810 820x544 The HOT List: Where to celebrate Chinese New Year 2015 in Melbourne

This year the Lunar New Year is Thursday 19 February 2015 and it will be celebrating the Year of the Goat (or Sheep).

Even if you’re not of Asian descent it’s a great time in Melbourne for festivities and yummy food!

Here’s a list of free Chinese New Year events in Melbourne in date order:

  • Victoria Street Lunar Festival Richmond – Sun 1 Feb, 11am-10pm. While technically the Vietnamese celebrate Tet there’s a large enough Chinese-Vietnamese population for Victoria Street Richmond to hold a CNY celebration. It’s very popular and gets a bit crowded but the street is closed off for food stalls and performances.
  • East Meets West Lunar Festival Footscray – Sun 8 Feb, 10am-10pm Hopkins St Footscray. This is the celebration we’ll be attending as it’s in our neighbourhood! Food stalls, games and rides will fill the street.
  • Crown’s Riverwalk Hawker’s Bazaar – Fri 13 Feb – Sun 22 Feb 11am-11pm Outside Crown Complex, Southbank. Chinese street food and entertainment by the Yarra. Some Crown restaurants will also have special CNY menus.
  • Box Hill Street Festival – Sat 14 Feb, 1pm-1am Market St & Main St, Box Hill. Box Hill is another Asian enclave in Melbourne and they’ll be celebrating CNY with cultural performances, game,  amusement rides and food.
  • Springvale Lunar New Year Festival – Sun 15 Feb, 9am-9pm Buckingham Ave, Springvale. Springvale has a large Vietnamese/Chinese population and this CNY festival coincides with Australia Day, so two holidays in one! See martial arts displays, lion dances, folk dancing and of course lots of Asian food stalls.
  • FCA Melbourne Chinatown Chinese New Year Festival – Mon 16 Feb – Sun 1 Mar. The big celebration in Melbourne, with the opening ceremony on Sun 22 Feb followed by the Dragon awakening ceremony and parade.
  • Prahran Market – Sat 21 Feb 163 Commercial Rd, South Yarra. The Market is offering a range of free cultural activities including children’s cooking activity, lion dance, Chinese music.
  • Chinese New Year at Noble Park Racecourse (Sat 21 Feb – Sun 22 Feb) – Chinese Lion Dance, Firecrackers, Traditional Folk Music, Dancers, Martial Artists and much more.
  • Chinese New Year at Federation Square (Thu 26 Feb – Sun 1 Mar) –  interactive performances, make your own dragon and free Tai Chi and Health Qigong demonstrations, mahjong lessons and a full stage program on 1 March with live music, dancing and a colourful performance.
  • Glen Waverley Chinese Lantern Festival – Sun 1 Mar, 10am-9pm. Kingsway, Glen Waverley. International food stalls, cultural performances and activities.

Also try these Chinese restaurants for a special CNY meal:

David’s 4 Cecil Street Prahran

Tao Tao House 815 Glenferrie Rd Hawthorn

– Golden Dragon Palace 363 Manningham Rd Lower Templestowe

Shark Fin House 131 Little Bourke St Melbourne

How will you be celebrating The Year of the Goat in 2015?

HOT: The Island Bird by Ernesto Neto, 3rd floor, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

The Island Bird by Ernesto Neto 3rd floor NGV International 180 St Kilda Road Melbourne 4 HOT: The Island Bird by Ernesto Neto, 3rd floor, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

One of National Gallery of Victoria’s newest international contemporary acquisitions is Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto’s “The Island Bird”. It’s an interactive, immersive installation which will delight young and old.

The Island Bird by Ernesto Neto 3rd floor NGV International 180 St Kilda Road Melbourne 2 HOT: The Island Bird by Ernesto Neto, 3rd floor, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

“The Island Bird,” enables visitors to enter within the exhibit by climbing into a 10m wide roof-mounted, hanging network of rope tunnels.

The ropes are hand-knotted together using a traditional craft technique to create a suspended nest. It’s quite incredible that these thin threads are able to hold the weight of thousands of rubber balls and several humans (only five people are allowed inside at once).

The Island Bird by Ernesto Neto 3rd floor NGV International 180 St Kilda Road Melbourne 3 HOT: The Island Bird by Ernesto Neto, 3rd floor, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

It’s an unusual vantage point to be able to look out from an artwork into the gallery space, breaking down the traditional divide between art and the viewer. The mesh of tropical colours gives a different vista at every turn.

At the back of the tunnel is a resting area with knotted cushions and informal seating where you can relax and rest. In fact, the gentle swinging of the work as people move in and around The Island Bird is quite soothing.

The Island Bird by Ernesto Neto 3rd floor NGV International 180 St Kilda Road Melbourne 5 HOT: The Island Bird by Ernesto Neto, 3rd floor, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

The Island Bird is a fun way to get really involved in art. It’s also a beautiful structure for calmer, more meditative moments as you hover in the air, gently swaying.

The Island Bird by Ernesto Neto, 3rd floor, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road Melbourne

Open every day (except Tuesdays) 10am-5pm

Exhibition open until Sun 19 April 2015

Free entry

THRILLER LIVE Giveaway!

Thriller Live Dangerous Heartbreak Hotel 6 1024x644 THRILLER LIVE Giveaway!

THRILLER LIVE is a spectacular concert production that celebrates the music of Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five. The 2 hour show features non-stop hits, high-energy choreography and dancing and Michael’s innovative dance moves, video footage, a myriad of effects and dazzling costumes.

Thriller Live Smooth Criminal 3 1 1024x680 THRILLER LIVE Giveaway!

THRILLER LIVE has played in London’s West End for six capacity years since 2009 and it premieres in Australia in Perth on 10 December, then tours nationally to Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.  Two of the stars on this tour will be Australian’s MiG Ayesa and Prinnie Stevens who have just performed the roles in the West End, London.

Smooth Criminal 1 1024x680 THRILLER LIVE Giveaway!

THRILLER LIVE  is a homage of Michael Jackson’s 45 year musical history and contains all of Jackson’s favourite songs. Don’t miss it!

THRILLER LIVE, Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre

Wednesday 28 January to Sunday 8 February, 2015

Tuesday 7pm, Wednesday – Friday 8pm, Saturday 4pm & 8pm, Sunday 1pm and 6pm

Tickets from $69.90. (Booking and transaction fees may apply.)

Bookings: ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE or artscentremelbourne.com.au

Groups 10+ SAVE! Call Group Bookings

Giveaway! Thanks to THRILLER LIVE I have 2 x double passes to give away for the opening night Wednesday 28 January. To win all you have to do is follow the instructions below. Two winners will be randomly selected and notified via email and tickets posted out. Competition closes midnight Monday 8 December. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HOT: Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Express Yourself Romance Was Born for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 5 HOT: Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Express Yourself: Romance Was Born For Kids is the newest Children’s Gallery commission at the National Gallery of Victoria – but it’s not just for kids. There is plenty of exhibition within the space to entertain and interest adults too and it makes the perfect stopover after the fashion extravaganza of the NGV’s Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition.

Fashion designers Romance Was Born have turned the gallery space into a crazy kaleidoscope of colour which typifies the work of fashion mavericks Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett.

An array of colourful sequins frames the entrance before you enter into a several rooms. Each room contains a jaw-dropping fantastical environment that will stimulate, engage and provide lots of opportunity for creative play.

HOT Express Yourself Romance Was Born for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 1 HOT: Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

HOT Express Yourself Romance Was Born for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 4 HOT: Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

The first room is the ‘Rainbow Room’, an immersive space which encourages children to engage with rainbow-coloured objects in glass cases and then design their own rainbow using the touchscreens.

Express Yourself Romance Was Born for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 6 HOT: Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

The end of the Rainbow Room takes you to my favourite room, the ‘Bush Magic’ room. The walls are decorated in a fantastical imagining of a bush setting while digital rock pools allow you to ‘swim’ with colourful fish and mysterious sea creatures.

HOT Express Yourself Romance Was Born for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 2 HOT: Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Then you move into the ‘Make and Do’ room where you can decorate and make a beard or a necklace by attaching sequins, pom poms and googly eyes onto various colourful templates. I spotted several adults sporting these decorative pieces around the gallery during my visit!

 HOT: Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Throughout the space some of the design duo’s richly imaginative work is on display, from gowns to shoes to accessories, as well as photographs and video.

HOT Express Yourself Romance Was Born for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 3 HOT: Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Express Yourself Romance Was Born for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 1 HOT: Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

HOT Express Yourself Romance Was Born for Kids NGV International 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 5 HOT: Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Express Yourself: Romance Was Born For Kids is bold, eccentric and really, really fun. Kids will love all the opportunities to play and create while adults will appreciate the way art and fashion come together in the various installations.

Express Yourself: Romance Was Born For Kids, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Friday 17 October 2014 to Sunday 22 March 2015.

Open 10am-5pm, closed Tuesdays.

Free entry



HOT: The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 2 HOT: The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

The National Gallery of Victoria is currently hosting The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk, a retrospective of the work of French designer Jean Paul Gaultier organised by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Melbourne is the only Asia-Pacific venue to host the exhibition, which has been seen by more than a million visitors in New York, San Francisco, London, Madrid and Stockholm.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk is a visual feast for those with an interest in fashion, art and design. Forget fashions on the field at the Melbourne Cup tomorrow and appreciate haute couture at its finest instead.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 3 HOT: The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

The massive show of clothing, accessories, furniture, photographs and art and it will take you at least 2 hours to see everything. It’s surprisingly interactive and is not just clothes on dummies, one after the other.

The rooms have been curated into seven thematic arrangements that track Gaultier’s design influences and the whole effect is highly theatrical.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 6 HOT: The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

The exhibition starts in the eerie blue room, with Jean Paul Gaultier himself dressed in his signature Breton stripes and introducing the exhibition as one of the animated mannequins. Gregorian chanting emanates from the Gothic looking women who are lined up two rows like religious icons.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 18 HOT: The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

In this room you’ll find costumes worn by Kylie Minogue and one of Beyonce’s jumpsuits.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 11 HOT: The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 12 HOT: The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

From there you are taken to a somewhat more traditional museum setting with various items on show, including his famous corsets.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 13 HOT: The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

The path then leads to a brightly lit throwback to the 80s, with graffiti on the walls, punk music blaring and a clever moving runway of mannequins where you’re invited to take a front row seat.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 7 HOT: The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

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You’re then lead into a room reminiscent of the opening scene of Chicago where the dominatrix and S&M influences of his work are collected.

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Jean Paul Gaultier was also responsible for the costumes for many films, such as The Fifth Element and Pedro Almodavor’s works.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 8 HOT: The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

My favourite room was probably the ‘Urban Jungle’ with wild and extravagant interpretations of ethnic costumes set amongst a backdrop of Melbourne’s skyline. Just look at this bridal gown!

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The final room is a special addition to the Melbourne exhibition as it features Gaultier’s Australian muses including pieces he has created for Kylie Minogue, Cate Blanchett, Andrej Pejić and Gemma Ward. The couture gown that Nicole Kidman’s wore when she won her Oscar for The Hours in 2003 is on display. I also liked the way in background had been created for this room, with the outlines furniture pushed and stretched against stark white fabric.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria 180 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 20 HOT: The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

It’s the small details that make this experience so awe-inspiring. The yards of silk pink ribbon sewed together to make a corset. The hand-pleated details. The Eiffel Tower kitten heels. The animal skin made up of tiny little tubular beads.

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The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk is a rare opportunity to learn about the skill and background of a designer that’s been in the fashion business for over 40 years and to admire the craftsmanship of haute couture up close. Don’t miss it.

NGV’s popular Friday Nights return in style celebrating The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier. Every Friday until Friday 6 February (excluding 26 December and 2 January) DJs and bands take to the stage alongside pop-up talks, bars and dining. Check out the program here.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk

National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne

Open 10am–5pm daily except Tue. Exhibition from 17 October 2014 until 8 February 2015

NGV Member Adult $17

Adult $22

Concession* $18

Child (5-15 years) $10