Artwork seen in the
National Gallery of Victoria
(from top): Untitled, 1982
by Keith Haring; Untitled,
1982 by Keith Haring; and
Prophets of Rage, 1988,
by Keith Haring.Art to art
Melbourneis consistentlyrated as one of the world’s
most liveable cities and it’seasy to see why when
exploringits ever-evolvingscenes. As the unof cial
capital of culture, it’s a mecca of inspiration and
innovation,whereyou’llalways nd something new.
Thebirthplaceofbroccolicoffee, the feature-length
lmandCateBlanchett,it’sasbursting with ideas as
it is creatives.
Gettinglostinsucha bustling place is all part of the
fun. Ambling past its historic buildings, modern
museums and street buskers, it’s clear this city
welcomes allwalks of life. With unique boutiques
poppinguponeverycorner,you’ll soon be dressing
likea Melburnian,too.SARTORIALSTEPS
There’sseeminglynoendofindependent designers
andboutiquestovisitinMelbourne. Luckily, Donna
CameronandBriarJasper-Batson of Fashion by Foot
havedonethehardyardsforus,mapping out the best
stopsfortheirtoursavailablein the city centre and
suburbsFitzroyandBrunswick.They take the format
ofintimatewalkingworkshopswhere attendees can
view the latest collections and get to know the
designersduringprivateviewings. As champions of
ethicalstyle,DonnaandBriartake shopping seriously,
andbelieveinbuyingspecialpieces that really suit
youandwilloutlastanyfast-fashion cycle.
Wepickeda touroffemaledesigners in Fitzroy, an
eclecticsuburba shorttramride from the central city.
I wasimpressedbymyhosts’energy as soon as the
tourstarted– ina designer’sworkroom at 11am with
a complimentaryglassofbubbles in hand. This rst
stop was behind the Arena Store owned by Livia
Arena,whodesignscolourfulfeminine clothing for
her eponymous label. Livia was joined by fellow
creatives Tamara Leacock, whose trans-seasonal
Remusepiecesaremadewithnatural materials like
vegetabledye;andjewellerydesigner Angela Clark,
whomakesshow-stoppingpieces using a combination
ofantique ndsandmoderntechniques.
Our lunch stop was t for royalty. Fitzroy has
historicallybeenoneofthelargest urban Aboriginal
communitiesinVictoria,andtoday is home to social
enterprise CharcoalLane, a restaurant that servesAustralian delicacies and supports Aboriginal youth
through hospitality training. It was also paid a special
visit from Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of
Sussex on their recent royal tour.
After a lunch of wallaby and wattleseed gnocchi, we
hit the road again, stopping by Gertrude Street’s
burlesque-inspired Edgeley store, before ending our
tour at Donna and Briar’s of ces, part of eclectic
shared studio Dispensary219, a hidden gem home to
several more fashion designers.CULTURAL CAPITAL
The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is the
country’s oldest and most-visited gallery, and a must-
visit when in Melbourne. Its premises are a sight in
their own right – a concrete fortress set behind a
striking water feature. Once inside, you’ll nd
blockbuster exhibitions including Terracotta Warriors:
Guardians of Immortality, which is showing until mid-
October. The large-scale presentation features more
than 150 exquisite treasures of historic Chinese art
and design, including the famous archaeological
gures widely regarded as the eighth wonder of
the world.
There are a number of other showcases that you
should see while at the NGV. On from December
until mid-next year, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat:
Crossing Lines is a world-premiere exhibition that
presents the work of two of the most signi cant and
in uential artists of the late 20th century, while
Collecting Comme (November to July 2020) celebrates
the gallery’s impressive collection of Rei Kawakubo’s
designs for her fashion label Comme des Garçons.
One of today’s most visionary designers, Rei’s truly
original and avant-garde creations will challenge you
to rethink the way you dress.
Meanwhile, female Australian photographers are
the focus of two separate exhibitions showing at the
NGV until March. Petrina Hicks: Bleached Gothic is the
rst major exhibition by the hyper-real artist, who
explores the complexity of the female experience in
her work. Olympia: Photographs by Polixeni Papapetrou
shows Polixeni’s artworks of her daughter Olympia
from her birth until the photographer’s untimely
death last year. More than a model for her mother,
Olympia was a muse, collaborator and champion, and
the collection is a testament to their unique bond.
Every week brings a new festival to this town,
and with it a new wave of enthusiasts ready to make
their mark on the city. The Melbourne Fringe
Festival is on in September and the Melbourne
International Arts Festival is hot on its heels
in October. Both celebrate through globally
renowned acts the notion that art is for everyone
and the importance of creativity. Anything goes,
but one thing’s for sure – they will both expand
your horizons. »EXPLORE
144 NEXT / SEPTEMBER 2019