Floribunda is an apt title for the lavish exhibition currently adorning Bunjil Place Gallery, in a major partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). It is one of total floral abundance. Paintings of flowers—from the likes of Joseph Banks, John Brack, Arthur Streeton, Margaret Preston and Grace Cossington-Smith—adorn the walls, while floral garments—Akira Isogawa, Carla Zampatti and Yves Saint Laurent among them—occupy the floor. The centre of the show is a darkly-lit corridor that houses 130 plant specimens suspended in resin. Block Flowers, an installation from celebrated Japanese flower artist Azuma Makoto, is on loan for the first time since its Australian debut at the 2023 NGV Triennial.
With over 150 works, this is one of the largest single loans in the history of the NGV, spanning painting, ceramics, photography, bark painting, sculpture, installation art, jewellery, textiles, printmaking, drawing and fashion from their collection.
Curator David Sequeira says, “my first love as an artist and a curator is being with people as they create a place for art in their lives. It is a joy and an honour to be the link between Bunjil Place’s audience and the collections of the National Gallery of Victoria. I visited the NGV as a seven-year-old and I could not believe that there was an entire building dedicated to art. I never imagined that more than 50 years later that I would be working with that same collection to curate Floribunda.”
View, in pictures, the vibrant history of flowers in art and visual culture.
Deanne Gilson, Before Joseph Banks, Our Baskets and Plants Held Sacred Knowledge 2022. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2023 © Deanne Gilson
Grace Cossington Smith, Still life with ranunculi, 1926. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Gift from the Estate of Brian Myddleton Davis AM, 2022 © Estate of Grace Cossington Smith.
Indian, Bedding cover or hanging (dharaniyo) mid 20th century. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Purchased NGV Foundation with the assistance of the Vivien Knowles Fund for Asian Art, 2016.
Jean Patou, Paris (fashion house) and Jean Patou (designer) Afternoon dress c. 1930–35. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty and the Campbell-Pretty Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2017.
John Brack, Solandra, 1955. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Presented through the NGV Foundation from the Bequest of Mrs Elizabeth Summons MBE, Founder Benefactor, 2003 © Helen Brack.
Installation view, Floribunda, Bunjil Place. Image courtesy of Bunjil Place.
Installation view, Floribunda, Bunjil Place. Image courtesy of Bunjil Place.
Korean, Pair of clogs, early 20th century. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Bequest of Mrs E. V. Dixon, 1976.
Lorraine Barber, No title (Three water lilies) (c. 1919-1930). National Gallery of Victoria, Gift of Miss Margaret Barber, 1987.
Paolo Sebastian, Adelaide (fashion house) and
Paul Vasileff (designer) Dress 2016 from The Snow Maiden collection, autumn–winter 2016. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2019.
Installation view, Floribunda, Bunjil Place. Image courtesy of Bunjil Place.
Installation view, Floribunda, Bunjil Place. Image courtesy of Bunjil Place.
Thomas Webb & Sons, Stourbridge, (manufacturer) Vase c. 1880. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. The Dr Robert Wilson Collection. Presented through The Art Foundation of Victoria by Dr Robert Wilson, Governor, 1998.
Floribunda
Bunjil Place Gallery
On now—20 July
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