Good news for Melbourne with the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) announcing today that the NGV Triennial is due to open on 19 December. The inaugural NGV Triennial, first staged in 2017, was the most visited exhibition in the NGV’s 157-year history. This year’s Triennial will feature 86 projects by more than 100 artists, designers and collectives from around the world.

Traversing all four levels of NGV International, the 2020 NGV Triennial will highlight crucial issues facing contemporary society today. Through a diverse selection of works including sculpture, painting, photography, film, fashion, jewellery, installation, architecture and more, visitors will be able to explore the exhibition across four broad themes: Illumination, Reflection, Conservation, and Speculation.

There will be 34 new world-premiere works especially commissioned for the exhibition with a number of highlights including: a large-scale video work by Turkish artist Refik Anadol which uses artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and quantum computing to visualise digitised memories of nature; 15 bark paintings and nine hollow poles by Yolngu artist, Dhambit Mununggurr, depicting Country in her signature shades of acrylic blue; and a chapel-like structure by French artist JR will shine a light on the ecological decline of the Darling River, following a visit by the artist to the Sunraysia agricultural region of Victoria and New South Wales earlier in the year.

On announcing the 2020 NGV Triennial, Tony Ellwood AM, director of the National Gallery of Victoria, said that it “offers visitors a significant opportunity to explore how we use art to express ourselves, communicate and consider the world as it is, while also asking how we would like it to be. Artists, designers and architects of the 21st century perform a vital role in giving form to our collective imagination, fears and aspirations. We are all living in a world in flux: there has never been a more important moment to celebrate human capability than now.”

NGV Triennial 2020
NGV International
19 December  – 18 April 2021

Complete list of NGV Triennial 2020 artists, designers and collectives:

Adam Nathaniel Furman (b. England) & Sibling Architecture (Australia ), Adrian Piper (b. USA), Aïda Muluneh (b. Ethiopia), Alice Potts (b. England), Alicja Kwade (b. Germany), Angela Tiatia (b. New Zealand), Asinnajaq (b. Canada), Atong Atem (b. Ethiopia), Ayana V Jackson (b. USA), Bosco Sodi (b. Mexico), Bruce Gilden (b. USA), BTVV: Alessandro Bosshard, Li Taylor, Matthew Van Der Ploeg, Ani Vihervaara (Switzerland & Finland), Carnovsky (Italy), Cecilie Bendixen (b. Denmark), Cerith Wyn Evans (b. Wales), Clare Milledge (b. Australia), Dale Hardiman and Stephen Royce (Australia), Daniel Arsham (b. USA), David Bielander (b. Switzerland), Danielle Brustman (b. Australia), Des Lawrence (b. England), Dhambit Mununggurr (b. Australia), Diamond Stingily (b. USA), Elliot Bastianon (b. Australia), Erez Nevi Pana (b. Israel), Fallen Fruit (USA), Faye Toogood (b. England), Fecal Matter (Canada), Fred Wilson (b. USA), Frieda Toranzo Jaeger (b. Mexico), Girma Berta (b. Ethiopia), Glenda Nicholls (b. Australia), Guido Casaretto (b. Turkey), Hannah Brontë (b. Australia), Ilan El (b. Israel), Jeff Koons (b. USA), Jim Shaw (b. USA), Joi T Arcand (b. Canada), Jonathan Ben-Tovim (b. Zimbabwe), JR, b. France Julian Opie (b. England), Kengo Kuma & Associates (Japan) & Geoffrey Nees (b. Australia), Kim Sihyun (b. South Korea), Kiran Subbaiah (b. India), Lakin Ogunbanwo (b. Nigeria), Lara Schnitger (b. The Netherlands), Lee Ufan (b. South Korea), Liam Young (b. Australia), Liu Shiyuan (b. China), Lukas Wegwerth (b. Germany), Makiko Ryujin (b. Japan) & Michael Gittings (b. Australia), Matt Copson (b. England), Megan Cope (b. Australia), Misaki Kawai (b. Japan), Naama Bergman (b. Israel), Nari Ward (b. Jamaica), Natasha Matila-Smith (b. New Zealand), Patricia Urquiola (b. Spain), Phumzile Khanyile (b. South Africa), Pierre Mukeba (b. DRC), Pirjo Haikola (b. Finland), Porky Hefer (b. South Africa), Refik Anadol (b. Turkey), Richard Quinn (b. England), Rive Roshan (The Netherlands), Sabine Marcelis (b. The Netherlands), Sarah Waiswa (b. Uganda), Scotty So (b. Hong Kong), Siji Krishnan (b. India), Soheila Sokhanvari (b. Iran), Steven Rhall (b. Australia), Stuart Haygarth (b. England), Susan Philipsz (b. Scotland), Tabor Robak (b. USA), Talin Hazbar (b. Syria), Tomo Koizumi (b. Japan), Tomoaki Suzuki (b. Japan), Tony Albert (b. Australia), Tony Matelli (b. USA), Tromarama (Indonesia), Veronique Ellena (b. France), Vicki West (b. Australia), Yanni Florence (b. Australia), Yann Gerstberger (b. France)