Experiencing the Triennial at the NGV.

As I walked into the rooms with other curious art lovers, I found an overwhelming happy feeling brought on by the simple shape of a red flower. Every where!! They were glued over the kitchen, bathroom, lounge, bedroom and everywhere else! Children loved it. People were surprised and wondering why there were these flowers. “Is this ART?”, I heard people ask. ”It’s wonderful” was the reaction of all. The artist wanted to submerge the world in flowers.


Then I continued weaving my way through the next installations admiring the creative spirit of various artists. Always the thought comes back “What brought them to think of this?” Chairs beautifully made in stainless steel by Oki Sako, are inspired by the 2 Dimensions in Magna comics. The designs incorporate speech bubbles, lines that reflect movement and symbols that visualise emotion. There were lights made from aluminium with a single globe.

This Japanese display was based on their mythology and was quite realistic and large. Everything in the display was an art piece. Azulejo tiles inspired by the Spanish and Portuguese were hand made. Beautifully detailed models and pictures. The next room held string forms of many colours which stretched across the room, wall to wall, from the floor to the ceiling. Pae White uses the yarn to compliment the flat shapes in the room which the viewer can walk around and view from different angles, shifting perception of space as the view changes.



By this time I was wondering what this was all about! Is there a meaning to all of this construction, or is each little section a stand alone statement of creativity? 


I kept walking, going deeper into the gallery’s rooms.


Next, a massive embroidery by Pae White. My photo does not do it justice. Magnificent shades,
texture and sheer crazy devotion to make the hanging look 3 Dimensional. People stretched out their hands to touch thinking it was folded and crumpled material and foil. But No! Cobblestones painted on one side were in a pile white a wall of wrapped God’s eyes captured attention.



This next room was dark with lights falling on many glass cases holding masks. I thought they looked more like props from Alien movies but no. Neri Oxman created the masks with modern technology, colours and materials, including a 3D printer. Clever!

The next room had warnings to keep moving and to look around. The room was walled with floor to ceiling mirrors and it spun. Once again it was dark but had streaming lights moving circular around the floor. There were sensors to activate light movement and the ceiling sparkled. A very interesting sensory experience.


I was almost exhausted!

But there’s more.

As I walked towards to exit there was an interactive area for people. Bubbles with music, weavings of landscapes to lie or sit on and relax and contemplate the furious artistic creativity they had experienced.


It was a busy, surprising and curious exhibition.
Experienced and written by Carmel Ritchie