NGV International

The largest-ever exhibition of fashion from the African continent to hit Australia is setting up shop at the National Gallery of Victoria at the end of May. Africa Fashion is an exhibition from London’s top-notch Victoria & Albert Museum, showcasing almost 200 works created by more than 50 designers, from more than 20 countries.  Expect to be dazzled by the depth and breadth of this collection of couture, body adornments, ready-to-wear fashions and behind-the-scenes materials like photography and film. Africa Fashion is part historical survey and part contemporary showcase, featuring visually arresting garments from icons of twentieth century African fashion (including Kofi Ansah, Chris Seydou and Shade Thomas-Fahm) and contemporary designers alike (including Thebe Magugu, Moshions and  Imane Ayissi. The exhibition starts with a focus on the African independence movement, highlighting the importance of fashion as part of the cultural renaissance seen in the ‘50s and ‘60s, where self-representation and agency were key. Next, Africa Fashion turns the spotlight to the contemporary work of cutting-edge creatives and Africa’s present day dynamic fashion culture. The NGV has also published a public call out to Australia’s African diaspora, seeking family photos and home movies from Africa’s independence and liberation years. These images and stories have then been incorporated into the exhibition. Africa Fashion curator Dr Christine Checinska says she’s looking forward to sharing a

Walk, talk and gawp like an Egyptian at this blockbuster exhibition all about ancient Egyptian art and culture. The NGV's 2024 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition, titled Pharaoh, constitutes the biggest loan of ancient Egyptian artefacts that the British Museum has ever presented to international audiences – most of which are on display in Australia for the very first time. Curated especially for the NGV by the British Museum, Pharaoh runs until October 6, 2024, and include a wide display of objects from monumental architecture to awe-inspiring statuary and exquisite pieces of jewellery. For the night owls, make sure to experience ancient Egypt afterdark when Pharaoh opens late every Friday night this winter for NGV Friday Nights: Pharaoh. Each week, there will be a changing line-up of live music, spanning classical, jazz, blues, funk and more – so grab your nearest and dearest for your next Friday outing. Spanning from the first dynasty (3000 BCE) to the Roman period (fourth century CE), Pharaoh will celebrate some of the works commissioned by Egypt’s most famous kings and queens, including the boy king Tutankhamun; Ramses II and Queen Nefetari; Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza; and foreign leaders such as Alexander the Great. The works featured in Pharaoh provide a sense of the vast scale of this ancient civilisation, including a carved green siltstone 'Head of Tuthmose III'; a five-centimetre wide ivory label depicting King Den of the first dynasty; a larg