National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra was established long before the site and the design were agreed upon, and held its growing collections in warehouses until its official opening in 1982. The competition winning building design was by Edwards Madigan Torzillo and Partners, a prominent Sydney firm of architects who also designed the nearby Australian High Court which will be the subject of a separate post.

A classic of modern Brutalist architecture with lots of off-form concrete and glass.

It has been extended twice, firstly in 1997 with a space to house temporary exhibitions, and most recently in 2010 with a grand new entrance building that also houses the Aboriginal artwork collection, both designed by Peddle Thorp Walker architects. There is also a beautiful sculpture garden near the shore of Lake Burley Griffin.

I'll post progressively to keep things manageable. The photos here are a sampler and more are viewable in the Canberra album on my Flickr site.

All a99ii with CZ 24-70mm and CZ 16-35mm Vario-Sonnar. C & C welcome.

1. The north facade of the original building, facing the sculpture garden and the lake.
National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

2.
Virginia by Clement Meadmore, 1970, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

3.
Cones by Bert Flugelman, 1982, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

4.
Floating Figure by Gaston Lachaise, 1927, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

5.
La Montagne by Aristide Maillol, 1937, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

6.
External stair, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

7.
View to main entrance, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

8.
Original and extension, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

9.
Entrance concourse, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

10.
Aboriginal galleries, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

11.
Aboriginal memorial, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

12.
Giant Aboriginal fish trap, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr




Edited by Jozioau - 05 April 2019 at 06:48

25.
Modern works, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

26. The Gallery's most famous, most valuable and once notorious "Blue Poles" by Jackson Pollock (1953), which was acquired in 1973 for AU$1.3 million to jeers of derision about the waste of public money that could have been better spent. Critics said it was the dribbles and daubing of a drunk that anyone could have created.
It has always been a major drawcard, has been recognised as one of the artist's masterpieces, and has a current value of around AU$350 million.
Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

27.
Rothko, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

28.
Modern furniture, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

29.
Contemporary artworks, National Gallery of Australia02 by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

30.
Polynesian carvings, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

31.
French poster art, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

32.
Maori Ta Moko face tattoos, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

33.
Elie Nadelman horse sculpture, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

34.
Café, National Gallery of Australia by Joe Lewit, on Flickr

Thanks for looking.

Edited by Jozioau - 05 April 2019 at 10:10

I like #21 for the story it tells/implies and very nice that the gentleman's foot is off the ground, adds to the movement feeling.