This was published 6 years ago
The places that made me: Tony Ellwood, Director, National Gallery of Victoria
Tony Ellwood.
AUSTRALIA
I began my career as an Aboriginal Art Co-ordinator at Waringarri Aboriginal Arts, Kununurra. The Kimberley region is one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world and is such an important area in terms of Indigenous Australian art. This place and its people had an indelible effect on me.
The Torres Strait is another very special place for me. My partner is from the central islands, so it really is our second home. It is also another stunning example of the Australian landscape, with the most welcoming and generous people.
CHINA
Chinese art, both traditional and contemporary, has been a priority for me for many years and I have been fortunate to work with some of the leading museums and artists. In 2015 we presented two important exhibitions of Chinese art, A Golden Age of China: Qianlong Emperor and Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei. We are now preparing for our inaugural NGV Triennial, which will include a stunning collection by renowned Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei and the most ambitious sculpture ever produced by the major contemporary artist Xu Zhen.
FRANCE
For the past 20 years I've been travelling regularly to Paris for work and so I've established many close friendships and had many memorable experiences over that time. Some of our most popular recent exhibitions have been presented in partnership with French museums and studios, including the recent Degas: A New Vision, and our current exhibition The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture. In fact, these two exhibitions epitomise the exceptionally diverse art and design culture this city has to offer. I also love the flower markets and gardens in central Paris and, of course, the food.
UNITED STATES
America, and particularly New York, is another destination I am required to visit frequently. The NGV has many close relationships with the arts community. In fact, we were there last month to launch our new fundraising initiative American Friends of the NGV. We are also partnering with the Museum of Modern Art on next year's Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition, which will see 150 works by iconic artists and designers from their collection travel exclusively to Melbourne.
MEXICO
Last year I travelled to Mexico City for the first time. Mexico has an incredibly powerful history, reflected through its art and culture and I was extremely fortunate to visit many impressive art museums and private collections, including the Blue House, the former home of Frida Kahlo. Another highlight was a day trip to Teotihuacán, the ruins of an ancient Mesoamerican city, and home to the Pyramid of the Sun, the third largest pyramid in the world.
The exhibition The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture is on at NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Australia, until November 7. Tickets can be purchased at NGV.MELBOURNE
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