Artist Juan Ford (centre) with his popular work, You Me and the Flock, in Melbourne Now. Source: News Limited
MELBURNIANS are embracing Melbourne Now in a big, big way.
Almost 100,000 people have been through the National Gallery of Victoria doors since the blockbuster show opened a fortnight ago, eager to see eye-popping contemporary art made by Victorians.
And with more than 300 artists exhibiting across two sites, on St Kilda Rd and Federation Square, organisers expect Melbourne Now to keep pulling giant crowds over summer.
"The momentum is growing," senior curator (contemporary art) Max Delany said today.
"People are coming in, reflecting on what they have seen, then coming back for repeat visits." Celebrating "what is unique about Melbourne's art, design and architecture communities", Melbourne Now attracted nearly 20,000 visitors in its first weekend alone.
NGV International's Community Hall, with its changing roster of events, has been hugely popular. So has The Great Hall with its parade of Flags for Melbourne. But Delany reports "a lot of the works people are nominating (online) as their favourites are unexpected".
"What's been so rewarding is seeing artists come up with hugely ambitious projects, then have new audiences engage with that work and be really invigorated by it."
Would Melbourne Now have worked 10 years ago?
"It would have been done in a different way. Melbourne has always had a very strong culture on the ground with artist-run spaces, private galleries and art museums, private gallery spaces. What I think this show has done is inaugurate new ways of working with artists in this city."
In plotting Melbourne Now, Delany said curators "thought very ambitiously about the exhibitions" and not without trepidation.
"There are many great artists who are not included, but this bold initiative focusing on contemporary art is the first (exhibition) in a much longer program."
To Delany, Melbourne Now is also a "transforming moment for the gallery".
"As well as borrowing and acquiring work, we are now producing work. A number of exhibits in this show have been produced for the NGV and will be acquired and go into the collection. A lasting legacy for the community."
Last month, the NGV announced its Melbourne Winter Masterpieces show for 2014 would be Italian Masterpieces from Spain's Royal Court. Delany sees Melbourne Now as a Summer series a complimentary counterpart.
"It's not one or the other," he said. "We're interested in both the historical and the contemporary. Looking forward and looking back."
* Melbourne Now is at NGV International (St Kilda Rd) and NGV Australia (Federation Square) until March 23, 2014. Free entry.
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