A colourful recreation of The Parthenon, an Ancient Greek temple, is now open at NGV. This interpretation of this architectural marvel, known as Temple of Boom, was created by Adam Newman and Kelvin Tsang as the NGV Architecture Commission for 2022.
It’s built to a third scale of the original building, and celebrates interpretations of The Parthenon as a symbol of Western civilisation, democracy and perfection. Temple of Boom also expands our understanding of the iconic structure, and its enduring beauty.
“This thought-provoking work by Adam Newman and Kelvin Tsang invites us to consider how we create and imbue architecture with meaning, as well as how this meaning can shift across time periods and cultures,” said Tony Ellwood AM, Director of the NGV.
The installation will gradually transform with large-scale artworks and murals painted by local artists in three phases between November 2022 and August 2023. See it for yourself, and for free, in the NGV Garden.
Temple of Boom
This installation debuts with overlapping, large-scale artworks by Melbourne-based contemporary artists. These vibrant additions will create further layers of meaning, and draw inspiration from the colourful and artistic embellishments of the building over two thousand years ago. The dynamic creations range from floral motifs to optical illusions. Guest curated by Toby Benador from Just Another Agency, this first phase features artworks by Drez, Manda Lane and David Lee Pereira.
Drez is a multidisciplinary artist who uses colour and form to play with perspective. His work draws inspiration from art historical perspectives, and creates an intersection between abstract art and street art. For this installation, Drez has created a colourful mural that changes composition when viewed from different angles.
Manda Lane is a muralist, illustrator and paper-based artist from Collingwood. With a focus on botanicals, her work explores the interactions between the natural world and industrial or man-made objects. For Temple of Boom, Lane has depicted various growth behaviours of plants, creating a visual metaphor for personal expression and growth.
David Lee Pereira is a visual artist whose works explore the fluidity of gender, sexuality and identity. Pereira has added large floral motifs to the installation. These motifs draw attention to nature’s flamboyant use of scent and colour to attract pollinators.
A new outdoor venue
The name Temple of Boom is inspired by the vibrations of music. The area will be a meeting place for the community, as well as an outdoor venue for performances, programs and live music over summer.
Presented in partnership with the Hellenic Museum Melbourne, audiences can enjoy a program of panel discussions, performances, and even a VR experience that will transport guests to The Parthenon, and allow them to walk virtually around the Acropolis in Greece. Across nine months, there will be further programming to celebrate the historical and cultural significance of this famous structure.
DJs will also perform weekly from December 16 to April 14, as part of NGV Friday Nights.
The NGV Architecture Commission for 2022 will be on display in the NGV Garden for free, from November 22 to August 2023.