NGV Triennial to feature more than 25 world-premiere projects

The NGV Triennial - Victoria's behemoth exhibition of contemporary international art and design - with its three thematic pillars of 'Magic, Matter and Memory’ - will be on display at NGV International from 3rd December 2023 to 7th April 2024.

Works from 100 artists, designers and collectives will traverse all four levels of NGV International including the facade, which will feature a large text-based work by conceptual artist Yoko Ono, in the form of a question for Melburnians.

A trio of finger-painting robotic dogs will share star billing with Ono, iconic fashion house Schiaparelli and British art heavyweight Tracey Emin in the third iteration of NGV Triennial.

Featuring more than 100 artists and designers from 30 countries, and free to the public, the line-up will also feature Sheila Hicks (USA), Agnieszka Pilat (Poland), Betty Muffler (Australia), David Shrigley (UK), Shakuntala Kulkarni (India) and Tao Hui (China).

NGV Director Tony Ellwood shares “through the work of more than 100 artists, designers, architects and collectives from Australia and around the world, the NGV Triennial offers a powerful insight into the ideas and concerns empowering creative practice in 2023.”

Showcasing painting, sculpture, robotics, fashion, multimedia, and interactive art installations, Triennial will showcase 75 works including more than 25 world-premiere projects which have been specially commissioned by NGV for the exhibition.

Inside the gallery, the three robo-dogs — designed by Boston Dynamics for industrial applications such as data collection, and subsequently trialled, controversially, in law enforcement — will take up residence in a purpose-built art studio, where they will paint every day for the duration of the Triennial.

Also inside the gallery, visitors will have the opportunity to walk among Mun-dirra, a 100-metre-long woven fish fence produced over two years by 10 artists working in Arnhem Land.

Victorian Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos notes “The NGV Triennial has become the place to see the best in contemporary art and design all under one roof – right here in Melbourne.

“We bring the biggest and best art exhibitions to Victoria because we know how important they are to attract visitors, support local jobs and boost businesses.”

Image. The instigator of the robo-dogs project, US-based Polish artist Agnieszka Pilat