NGV Triennial in Melbourne merges spectacle with commerce through immersive installations and participatory experiences
The National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne hosted its first NGV Triennial from December 2017 until April 15, 2018, showcasing more than 100 artists in an effort to rival major art events. Among the highlighted pieces were Xu Zhen's 18-meter sculpture, Eternity-Buddha in Nirvana (2016–17), and Yayoi Kusama's Flower Obsession (2017). Additionally, Yamagami Yukihiro's Shinjuku Calling (2014) illustrated Tokyo's Shinjuku Station, while Kay Hassan's collages (2015) depicted life in Johannesburg. Guo Pei's couture drew inspiration from Rihanna's gown at the 2015 Met Gala. Candice Breitz's Wilson Must Go (2017) included a seven-channel video installation focused on refugee stories. The triennial prioritized spectacle and artist-designed spaces over critical discourse.
Key facts
- The NGV Triennial ran from December 2017 to April 15, 2018 at NGV International in Melbourne
- Over 100 artists participated in the inaugural triennial
- Xu Zhen created an 18-meter-long sculpture combining Tang Dynasty Buddhist and Greco-Roman elements
- Yayoi Kusama's Flower Obsession allowed visitors to decorate a room with cloth flowers
- Candice Breitz's video installation featured Alec Baldwin and Julianne Moore voicing refugee stories
- The exhibition included artist-designed cafés, bars, and bedrooms for visitor participation
- Ron Mueck-designed skateboards were available for purchase in the gift shop
- The triennial opened the same week as a Star Wars film installment
Entities
Artists
- Xu Zhen
- Ron Mueck
- Yayoi Kusama
- Hassan Hajjaj
- Yamagami Yukihiro
- Kay Hassan
- Guo Pei
- Candice Breitz
- Alec Baldwin
- Julianne Moore
- Rihanna
Institutions
- National Gallery of Victoria
- NGV
- ArtReview Asia
- Met Gala
- Wilson Security
Locations
- Melbourne
- Australia
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Johannesburg
- South Africa
- Berlin
- Germany
- Cape Town
- New York
- United States