4 Exhibitions To See This Summer

By Niall Roeder.

If Canberra has plenty of one thing, it’s art. Heaps of art. Art by the barrelful. Art coming out of it’s ears. Granted, it’s not for everyone. Some of us enjoy sitting on a bar stool and spewing outrageous claims of fish that got away, some of us get excited by clumsily salsa’ing with exotic partners… and then some of us are all about the inner workings of abstract expressionism, brushwork and daguerreotype, and the dissection of Salvador Dali. For those of us artistically inclined, our nation’s capital having a healthy artistic libido is obviously a very good thing.

Below we’ve singled out four very different exhibitions that are conveniently all showing in the one spot. How good. Head across to the National Gallery of Australia, check them out and let us know your favourite.

Tom Roberts – Until 28 March 2016

Tom Roberts is one of Australia’s best known and most loved artists and this iconic exhibition is a fitting tribute to him. The NGA is displaying over 130 iconic Tom Roberts paintings, prints and sculptures, that depict Australian life leading up to Federation.

“All Australian paintings are in some way a homage to Tom Roberts” – Arthur Boyd

Behind the scenes: Tyler Graphics at work – Until 8 May 2016

Kenneth E. Tyler is a publisher, arts guru, a big part of the American post-war revival of fine art and most importantly a master printer. This exhibition contains works from one of the most pioneering print workshops of the 20^th century.

– Free entry

The world is beautiful: photographs from the collection – Until 10 April 2016

Meander through the NGA’s brilliant collection of snaps taken over the last 100 years by photographers like Diane Arbus, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Bill Henson, Man Ray, Cindy Sherman, Robert Mapplethorpe and Edward Weston.

– Free entry

The last temptation: the art of Ken + Julia Yonetani – Until 3 April 2016

What are Ken + Julia Yonetani up to now? Mmm just casually chucking up chandeliers made from uranium glass representing nuclear-powered nations and a nine-metre banquet table made entirely of salt… yeah right, why not?!

– Free entry

Images:

Tom Roberts Mentone 1888, oil on wood panel, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Purchased, 1955

Tom Roberts Shearing the rams 1888–90 (detail) National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Felton Bequest Fund, 1932

Terence La Noue Beyond the shore 1992 (detail) National Gallery of Australia, Canberra Gift of Kenneth Tyler, 2002

Robert Doisneau Un regard oblique [A sidelong glance] 1948 (detail) gelatine silver photograph, printed 1990

Ken + Julia Yonetani Crystal Palace: The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nuclear Nations 2013, photo courtesy of the artists