The idea that nudity ‘is one of art’s oldest subjects – and often its most controversial’ is behind Art Gallery of New South Wales opening up its doors to, ahem, bare all in this compelling look at nudes in art.
The complete Nude: art from the Tate collection exhibition is a full sensory experience. When my plus one and I entered the main hall of the gallery, it was to a large audience listening intently to an open and frank ‘Nude Fictions‘ event – led on this occasion by Australian novelist and playwright Christos Tsiolkas. We carried on, intrigued by what else we might find.
Firstly, the organisation of it all appealed to me. You go down some stairs and a wall high mural stating ‘NUDE’ tells you that you’re in the right place. As you enter, the exhibition is divided into different eras or ideologies (rooms) of nude. There’s The Private Nude, The Political Nude, Body Politics, and The Vulnerable Body, each room telling a story and giving context to the period it comes from as well as providing insights into artists, subjects, politics and painting styles.
You get the impression you are moving through the history of nudity. It brings you back to the humbling realisation that this is universal human truth, and always has been.
Not being content for us to just look at nudes, Art Gallery NSW is running ‘Nude at Night‘, with exhibitions open until 10pm Wednesday to Friday until 27 January. (Top tip – Wednesday night at Art Gallery NSW is always open till 10pm to give you the chance to enjoy art at night.) There are also a number of free events running alongside the exhibition, giving us a chance to embrace all things nude, like tours, nude ideas, workshops, life drawing classes, and storytelling.
Nude: art from the Tate collection contains a sensational collection of artwork, which in theory centres around famous pieces such as The kiss (Auguste Rodin’s 1901-04 sculpture), Pierre Bonnard’s The bath 1925, and Picasso’s Nude woman in a red armchair 1932, amongst others. In reality I found myself walking around the gallery gasping, laughing, and genuinely moved by lesser-known images and sculptures which were sometimes weird, funny, sexy, imaginative, raw — but most of all, provocative.
If there’s anything that I would highly recommend you do in Sydney this summer (and it doesn’t involve alcohol or cost the world – a bonus for your body and your wallet!) it’s this exhibition.
– Elli
Elli de Ryckman de Betz, inspired by the collection and ever one to have an authentic experience, wrote this review in the nude.
Nude: Art from the Tate Collection runs 5 November 2016–5 February 2017. Buy tickets now.
