Last month I went up north to the nation’s capital, Canberra (yes, it’s actually not Melbourne, nor Sydney), to see the Masterpieces from Paris – Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne and beyond at the National Gallery of Australia. This breakthrough exhibition (it is the first post-impressionist devoted exhibition in Australia) boasts 112 of some of the most famous works of modern art from the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, a major museum of 19th-century art. Selected artists no doubt ring a bell with most people: Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Paul Cézanne, Georges Seurat, Pierre Bonnard, Claude Monet, Maurice Denis, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Edouard Vuillard, among others. I’d been really primed for this exhibition months before (I had previously missed the Edgar Degas exhibition, owing to uni commitments, so I truly was determined to make it this time round!), but as I queued up early that Monday morning I tried not to heighten my already great expectations, especially having travelled so far from home. I’m aware of the criticisms that come with these so-called ‘blockbuster’ exhibitions, but where’s the harm in being swept away in the flurry of mystique, tragedy and exoticism that colours these many paintings?

For the lucky Melburnians and visitors in town, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) for today only is showing Salvador Dalí: Liquid Desire for 24 hours, from 10am till 10am tomorrow morning. It’s the last day today to see it! Isn’t that brilliant? Sure, they’re probably just trying to squeeze in last minute cash, but I’m sure they’ll be successful tonight. I for one love the idea of popping by at 3 in the morning; if only I felt safe enough to do so. I visited twice on two Art After Dark Wednesdays (poor student that I am). I stayed five hours on the latter Wednesday, not really because it was that “omg awesome!”, but I was frantically jotting down hundreds of notes for my essay, which I’ve published below. The exhibition just bursts with so much detail and diversity; 300,000 people have attended already, but it begs the question—what makes Dalí so popular, given his eccentric, exuberant life and career?

Last Monday, as planned, I went up to Bendigo with my folks, mainly to check out the featured exhibition at Bendigo Art Gallery, The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London (1937–1948), direct from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It was overall a fantastic show of outfits, ranging from refined afternoon wear to the more flamboyant evening gowns, with also a collection of fashion photography from the likes of Richard Avedon on display.

Bendigo is a lovely city. Clean, vintage and with friendly people. And there was a Katies store that was closing down with the cheapest clothes! $5 a piece for most garments, zomg! Not even DFO can compare!

I sort of splurged on the gift range… The bag is beautiful and cute however, and well worth it.

Now I wouldn’t be a true type fan without noticing the amazing signage around this historic city! ‘Total Abstinence Society Inc”—well, that’s one way of putting it, eh? I love the little flourishes and the Nouveau/Deco typefaces.

The flourish in the ‘AND’ is beautiful! But I love the little stencil someone grafittied on top of the sign. It completes the set. ;)

So… I haven’t been to an art gallery in a long time. I think the last time was NGV’s Art Deco. That’s a long time in my book. For me, it’s a good way to chillax and rejuvenate some of my creative vigour, and usually an excuse to hang about the NGV Shop (which I love).

The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra is hosting the first (and biggest) Edgar Degas exhibition in the country from this Friday! I wouldn’t have known about it if I hadn’t been watching the 7:30 Report while doing the dishes tonight. Oooh I would really love to go. I missed out on the huge Warhol and Picasso exhibitions in Queensland, but I should really love to see some more Degas. I’m a real sucker for the Realist and Impressionist movements (although Degas himself hated the term “Impressionist”). I suppose I could make it a day trip. Airfares with Tiger Airways are usually cheap (I’ll never forget my $10 trip to Hobart) and I imagine I could stay a night and get home the next day, if it came to that… But I suppose I’d want to sight-see just to take advantage of being in the …

Every month or few weeks (whichever comes sooner), Mum makes her famous pho, and I am one happy camper. They’re particularly good when it’s a freezing, dreary day, like today – the hot soup just sends warm fuzziness right through my belly and down to my toes. It’s sensational.

Mmm, makes me hungry again.

It’s also stocktake sales come June, so lots of “bargains” abound (don’t worry, retailers still make over 300% profit); I bought another pair of flats and a striped jumper. I was eyeing this pair of purple skinny jeans ’cause they looked a bit absurd (so naturally I am attracted to the weird), but I don’t think I could have pulled them off, so to speak… :P

Plus, the very successful annual Winter Masterpiece Collection for the NGV is here! This time it’s Art Deco: 1910 – 1939 direct from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Ever since my research for my typeface project last year, I’ve been obsessed with all things Art Deco (also partly influenced by The Great Gatsby studies the previous year). Won’t be able to see it until I get paid, which won’t be a while yet. Damn. Anyway, no hurry as it closes in …