Urban escapes in one place
If you’ve got the travel bug but a straitened purse, I have something of a panacea. An exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, part of the 2023 NGV Triennial, offers a captivating exploration of contemporary urban landscapes via the lens of photography, with transporting views to fabulous destinations.
Megacities, on until April 7, delves into 10 metropolises, unravelling the stories in the architecture, people, and cultures that define cityscapes as diverse as Seoul and Mexico City. The specially commissioned show brings together the work of 10 acclaimed photographers from big cities including Hana Gamal of Cairo, Mikiko Hara from Tokyo, and Gustavo Minas of São Paulo, takes in photojournalism, documentary photography, and artistic practice. In this era of AI, where image manipulation is ubiquitous, these works strike me as even more relevant.
They will, in time, serve as a historical record, with views into parts of cities tourists might not encounter. From towering skyscrapers to busy street markets, a series of different perspectives on contemporary life emerges. Megacities showcases the relationship between humans and their urban environments – individuals navigating crowded streets, the kaleidoscope of cultures colliding in public spaces, and the juxtaposition of tradition and modernity create a rich tapestry of urban experiences.
The lens of the photographer becomes a tool for social commentary, capturing moments of resilience, protest, and hope. How quickly can we adapt to the pressures of people and place? The installation across 19 double-sided and suspended screens lends the 500 images an immersive quality.
Sound from each city, including music and location recordings, fills the space, helping to transport viewers just for a moment to Seoul or Lagos, say. This show whet my appetite for travel. And as most of us have a smartphone these days, we can all take photos, so consider Megacities artistic inspiration. Elsewhere at the NGV, don’t miss artist Maurizio Cattelan’s banana. The gallery has on loan one of three editions of his provocative 2019 work Comedian – a real banana taped to the wall, which needs to be replaced every seven to 10 days.
Cattelan is a world-famous conceptual artist and prankster so this is a must-see. Visitors big and little will adore the NGV’s new acquisition by Ryan Gander, a UK conceptual artist with a cult following.
The End (2020) is the final work in Gander’s trilogy of animatronic mice, voiced by his young daughter. The mouse emerges from a hole in the gallery wall to philosophise on some of the biggest questions faced by humanity. Followers of fashion, meanwhile, will love the inclusion of work from the Maison Schiaparelli couture atelier under the creative direction of Daniel Roseberry.
Then there’s artist Agnieszka Pilat, who works at the intersection of AI, robotics and fine arts. Her robot dogs are extraordinary.