A look at our new and possibly improved NGA

Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?

by Hannah Harborow

110
Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”

by Sarrah Le Marquand

210
Defeating bullying one child at a time

by Peter James

310
Why can’t I be pope?

by Xavier Toby

410
My democratic dilemma after the death of a despot

by Gabriel Pizani

510
Punch on: Open thread 14/03/2013

by The Punch Team

610
Atheist church’s faithless flock proves value of religion

by Sam Clench

710
There’s no such thing as a free bus ticket

by Jessica Irvine

810
Politicians can’t control the economy

by Albert Alla

910
How far do the National Rifle Association’s sights focus?

by Scott Limbrick

1010

by Leo Shanahan

30 Sep 06:26pm

Must Reads

The Punch is moving house

385

Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?

122

Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”

251

Filed under: Architecture, Art, Indigenous Art, National Gallery Of Australia

12 comments

The National Gallery is one of those buildings people like to beat up on.

Can't you just all leave it alone? The NGA. Picture: Ray Strange

Since its open in 1967the building has been subject to hurtful and unfair sledges such as “pile of concrete poo” and “High Court off-cuts”.

Besides the fact the Colin Madigan building is one of the world’s best examples of brutalist architecture, it is also safely Australia’s coolest public building. In a city dotted with real piles of bureaucratic concrete the NGA is an oasis of unique design.

I liked the weird side entrance and the sometimes confusing internal layout of the galleries. I liked the fact it didn’t present itself to you in an obvious fashion, that you were forced to think differently the minute you arrived (like how the hell do you get in?).

Obviously I’m in the minority given the amount of complaints about the building, especially its entrance, prompted a large scale renovation of the front of the building.

The NGA tonight opens its new entrance and aboriginal art galleries. I’ve got to say I’m with Madigan in arguing that the front his building should have left the hell alone.

Upon entering the new NGA you are greeted with two escalators leading you up to the new galleries. To your right is a huge brand new gift shop. My immediate sensation is that it feels like a shopping mall. This isn’t entirely accidental either, because the new design, as opposed to the original, is supposed to allow visitors to feel they are in easily negotiable and familiar environment.

That precious complaint aside the new indigenous galleries are really stunning and, unlike the older galleries, are flooded with natural light from above so you don’t feel like you’re looking at paintings in a basement. The NGA appears to have taken a leaf from the book of the new National Portrait Gallery next door.

The collection is the largest of Australian indigenous art in the world and the new galleries divide art into ethnographic groups rather than lumping it all in under a generic aboriginal art title. It also displays spectacular collections of significant aboriginal art movements like Pupunya Tula and the Hermannsburg School.

Here’s a look at the new galleries thanks to News Limited photographer Ray Strange. The new galleries are open to the public from Friday October 1 at the National Gallery in Canberra.

Share post:
Print page:
- Print Article

12 comments

Show oldest | newest first

- Joyce Cowshead says:
  
  08:31pm | 30/09/10
  
  I,m sure the N.G.A. is a truly worthy institution,the pics. look intriguing and enticing,but… aint there always a but…not the escape goat type butt…but the style of architecture titled as brutal, who in their right mind could design or name a building as brutal,I,d like to see it, but will the brutes be there,I hope not, anyway all buildings are floored aren,t they.
  
  Reply
- stephen says:
  
  08:49pm | 30/09/10
  
  The only way yer gonna get Aussies in that building in the next three weeks is if yer fly in 25 Rockettes in high-heels and lipstick doing the can-can or….............
  from the Tate Modern… Paul Gaugain.
  After that, its the Commonwealth Games in, of all places India.
  
  Also, there’s report peskie monkeys have invaded the athletes village.
  I didn’t think Bob Brown n’ the Greens was going over there.
  
  Reply
iansand says:

09:32pm | 30/09/10

You obviously were not aware of the queues to see the recent Post-Impressionist exhibition. People lined up for 2 hours to get in. Motels in Canberra were like hens’ teeth.
- Toni says:
  
  09:04pm | 30/09/10
  
  I like the new look NGA but still prefer the National Portrait Gallery (which is located right next door). It is smaller and very unique for Australia.
  
  Reply
- ibast says:
  
  08:44am | 01/10/10
  
  I can’t comment on the new modifications, but the old gallery was an abomination of architectural self pleasure. To make it worse, it was a terrible gallery space.
  
  As to more aboriginal art . . . . yawn.
  
  Reply
- stephen says:
  
  10:30am | 01/10/10
  
  I only line up fer the sausage sizzle.
  Nothin wrong with sport neither.
  And as Tors might say…‘he’s only jokin’.
  
  Reply
- Dave Sag says:
  
  11:02am | 01/10/10
  
  I love the NGA and will be there tonight in fact for cocktails. They do the best snacks at their openings.
  
  Reply
stephen says:

11:44am | 01/10/10

Cocktails heh ?
(Just don’t mention yer name.)
- bobw says:
  
  12:05pm | 01/10/10
  
  Leo, this post has been up for almost 18 hours and not one single commenter has taken it as an excuse to hate on Canberra. I call miracle - unless, of course, there’s been a lot of moderation going on.
  
  I’m aware that I might have opened the floodgates here.
  
  On topic, though, I rate the NGA building. There’s something about the defiant concrete awfulness of the thing that’s quite magnificent.
  
  Reply
- Sam Chowder says:
  
  12:35pm | 01/10/10
  
  We’ve got quite a nice IGA near the traffic lights but not as nice as that one, didn’t see any fresh veg though.
  
  Reply
- David C says:
  
  12:38pm | 01/10/10
  
  i was there last Sunday, it is well worth the time to wander round. The outside areas of the NGA and the portrait gallery are very sparse though, its as if its deserted.
  As for Canberra well thats a weird place isnt it? Lot of “mate of the dirt” types… lots of beards and loads of sandals (with socks)
  
  Reply
- Lucy says:
  
  08:22pm | 01/10/10
  
  I really like the NGA building, and while your description worries me, I’ll withhold judgement on the renos until I see them myself on my next trip to Canberra.
  
  My understanding of the old entrance that you describe as the ‘original’ was that it was not actually designed to be the real entrance at all. Colin Madigan was quite angry that they changed the direction of approach to the gallery, and chucked a carpark where they did. So what you believe was his original design is actually quite different in effect.
  
  I’ve been writing about Australia’s public art gallery architecture recently, and I find it really interesting when people remark that they find the NGA ‘really imposing’. I always ask whether they find the AGNSW’s sandstone facade ‘imposing’, to which many people say yes, ‘but in a good way’. Obviously Australians don’t mind imposing buildings, as long as they’re built of sandstone…
  
  Reply

Sorry, comments are now closed for this article.

Facebook Recommendations

Read all about it

Punch live

Up to the minute Twitter chatter

_Tors 23 May 13 03:05PM

Finally have time to ponder the fact it took the Bobbies 20 minutes to show up to this morning's London horror ... incredible

lucyjk 23 May 13 02:58PM

RT @candacesutton1: @newscomauhq Julia Gillard should allow gay marriage now to stop gay teen suicides http://t.co/m92pj63CcC

Colgo 23 May 13 02:51PM

Market analyst quote of the month: "It's looking a bit sad today." http://t.co/vh4Yu4OgDD

lucyjk 23 May 13 02:46PM

Are Nina and Patrick already doomed? http://t.co/fIp9GvoMF5

See all tweets

Nosebleed Section

choice ringside rantings

From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go

Tim says:

They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]

From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go

Kel says:

If you want a festival for older people or for families alike, get amongst the respectable punters at Bluesfest. A truly amazing festival experience to be had of ALL AGES. And all the young "festivalgoers" usually write themselves off on the first night, only to never hear from them again the rest of… [read more]