A Risk-Averse Triennial at the NGV Struggles with Its Own Mission
Beneath the slick surface appearance of the National Gallery of Victoria’s blockbuster exhibition is a timid exploration of Australia’s colonial legacy
The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is the fifth most Instagrammed place in Australia. This is by design. In a country that is double the size of Europe, world-famous for its beaches and natural beauty, its bluestone building (now known NGV International) rivals the nation’s greatest spectacles. The gallery temporarily reopened post-lockdown with its blockbuster NGV Triennial, a show of 86 works by more than 100 artists from 32 countries, spanning all four levels of the museum.