Salvadore Dali is one of The Thinker’s favourite artists, so he was very excited to see the National Gallery of Victoria’s Liquid Desire Exhibition advertised earlier this year. Last Sunday we finally decided to visit the Big Smoke and check out the exhibition for ourselves.
Getting There
Parking at the Gallery was super easy via the underground Arts Centre carpark (off Southgate Blvd). At $12 for the day it was good value. Public transport is perhaps even easier if you’re not at the whim of the country train network. The gallery is a quick stroll along St Kilda Rd from Flinders St station or an even quicker tramride.
I’d suggest buying exhibition tickets online to avoid cues; we were able to walk straight into the exhibition.
The Exhibition
I knew very little about Salvadore Dali other than he was a surrealist and did “that liquid clocks” painting. (I know, I’m so cultured – not). What I didn’t expect to see was such an obvious development in his style from his early teenage years, where he focused on impressionism through to cubism then on to the surrealism he is most well known for, as well as some fascinating photography. There was even a dabble in the renaissance style. He was one seriously talented man. The exhibition also includes many sketches and a small section on his film work.
I particularly enjoyed Dali’s surrealist works and could have spent much longer studying them. Although The Persistence of Memory (that liquid clocks painting) wasn’t included, The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory was.
Kids and crowded exhibitions
We thought quite a bit about taking the kids to the gallery. Scienceworks is all touchy and fine for little hands to be all over. But the National Gallery? Standing back and appreciating without touching is a different story.
Our decision to go was partially influenced by the fact that family tickets were available. I felt even more confident as we were told that the large ants on the floor were a guide for kids through the exhibition and the special rhino labels at some pictures were aimed at kids as well (he apparently had a thing for ants and rhinos).
My confidence slowly started to melt away as we entered the exhibtion though. The first part was basically a cue of people edging past the works at snails’ pace. While waiting to move along, one of the kids leaned on the wall and was quickly told by one of the staff in no uncertain terms that was a no-no.
At the rate we moved we got to see maybe eight paintings before the kids had had enough. Added to that, every time we tried to read one of the rhino signs or talk about the artwork someone would stand in front of us. We also had three or four other “encounters” with the staff. The kids virtually just had to point and there was someone at our shoulder.
Extra points for Dali Kids
Soon, with whiny and frustrated children, The Thinker and I decided the best approach might be to do a tag team. I took the troops back out to the gallery foyer where there was a small area for kids to do some of their own artwork and a little “Dali-esque” play area. To my relief this was enough to appease them while us grown ups got our culture fix.
Would I take them along again? Probably not; certainly not on a weekend. The space was just too crowded for young kids to get a look and far too slow moving to keep them interested. Older kids (say 11 or 12 up) would likely have a better time.
NGV’s Dali exhibition, Liquid Desire, is on until October 4. Click here for more details.
Image by exfordy
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
We haven’t been yet for the very reasons that you stated. I hoped that the kids would have a curriculum day this term so we could go then. Thanks for the honest report – gives me some great perspective to plan our visit.
It’s a shame it was so busy as the kids were quite interested. Our 8yo son’s artwork has developed in leaps & bounds since we visited; it’s like he discovered it doesn’t have to be all houses, trees or rockets. Both he and his sister are very keen on having their work exhibited now