Destination's Journey

Tag: Paintings

  • Art Gallery of NSW North Building

    Art Gallery of NSW North Building

    Art Gallery of NSW North Building

    The Art Gallery of NSW new North Building displays contemporary art, with an emphasis on Indigenous Australian art. The building reflects this with bright well lit rooms and colourful displays. A highlight is the use of its basement, an old storage tank as a display space.

    Getting There

    Located, to the north of the original Art Gallery (now the South Building), it’s walkable from the Sydney CBD. We used the train from Central Station, getting off at St. James and walking, although buses can also be used. If you drive, the Domain carpark would be the closest option.

    Arriving before opening time, we took some photos of the giant sculptures outside and then had a coffee at the café opposite the entrance.

    Inside

    With four levels, there is plenty of space to display artworks. The ground floor has an amazing display of Indigenous art and its great that this is the first gallery you see on entering. Previously displayed at the South Building the collection now has pride of place at the entrance.

    The next two levels down display a series of contemporary art in addition to having access to outside galleries. Here we found an amazing flower sculpture, as well as a Buddhist Temple.

    Lower Level 4 – The Tank

    The highlight though was The Tank. Level 4 used to be an underground oil storage tank, but has been repurposed as an art space. Access is via a spiral staircase, which you descend into increasing darkness. Left deliberately dark, with the original columns still in place, it’s eerie, with lights moving on the ceiling, slowly brightening and dimming to highlight the sculptures there.

    Before entering, you are warned that the area is dark and claustrophobic, so that you know what to expect. Numerous staff patrol the space, ensuring everyone obeys the rules (no flash photos) and remains safe.

    We loved it, the sculptures were unworldly and the empty spaces and columns eerie.

    Here Comes Everybody by Francis Upritchard Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    Here Comes Everybody by Francis Upritchard
    Here Comes Everybody by Francis Upritchard
    Here Comes Everybody by Francis Upritchard
    Level 1
    Level 1
    Untitled by Frank Stella Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    Untitled by Frank Stella
    Ku (dogs)
    Ku (dogs)
    Seven Sisters by Nyunmiti Burton
    Seven Sisters by Nyunmiti Burton
    Dhamala Story by David Malangi Daymirringu
    Dhamala Story by David Malangi Daymirringu
    Death Zephyr by Yhonnie Scarce Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    Death Zephyr by Yhonnie Scarce
    Japan Supernatural: Vertiginous After Staring at the Empty World Too Intensely, I Found Myself Trapped in the Realm of Lurking Ghosts and Monsters by Takashi Murakami
    Japan Supernatural: Vertiginous After Staring at the Empty World Too Intensely, I Found Myself Trapped in the Realm of Lurking Ghosts and Monsters by Takashi Murakami
    Banners From The Lot by Eko Nugroho Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    Banners From The Lot by Eko Nugroho
    Three Paintings by John Prince Siddon
    Three Paintings by John Prince Siddon
    by Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    by Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran
    Antara by Betty Kuntiwa Pumani Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    Antara by Betty Kuntiwa Pumani
    Guts (2022) by Samara Golden
    Guts (2022) by Samara Golden
    Flowers that Bloom in the Cosmos by Yayoi Kusama
    Flowers that Bloom in the Cosmos by Yayoi Kusama
    Flowers that Bloom in the Cosmos by Yayoi Kusama
    Sculpture Garden Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    Sculpture Garden
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas
    The Tank
    The Tank
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    In the Tank – The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

  • Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

    Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

    Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

    Sitting on the waterfront at Circular Quay, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia provides a venue for international and local artists.

    Getting There

    In walking distance of Circular Quay, public transport is the easiest way to get here. Ferries, buses, trains and light rail all stop here, making it easy and convenient. Several carparks are located nearby if you want to drive.

    The Museum

    Near the entrance a metallic sculpture provides some great photo opportunities, because its design allowing unique views of the Opera House.

    During our visit one gallery was dedicated to David Malangi Daymirringu’s aboriginal artwork. They follow important sites, ceremonies, and stories that encompass ancestral knowledge connected to the artist’s Manharrngu clan of central Arnhem Land. Some of the photos below show his amazing work.

    As expected the remaining art on display ranged from weird and unique to strangely interesting. A fun place to walk around, especially if you want to see what current artist are producing.

    A cafeteria on the roof gives great views of Sydney Harbour as well as Circular Quay. We sat here for a while enjoying morning tea and watching the ferries going in and out of the Quay.

    What Did We Think?

    This was an interesting visit. The highlight was the indigenous artwork on display, which looked amazing. It was nice to see that the museum takes great pride in its support of aboriginal and Torres Strait artists. Open everyday except Mondays.

    • Museum of Contemporary Art
      Outside of the Museum of Contemporary Art with the Opera House
    • Museum of Contemporary Art
      Outside of the Museum of Contemporary Art
    • David Malangi Daymirringu
      David Malangi Daymirringu
    • David Malangi Daymirringu
      By Indigenous Artist David Malangi Daymirringu
    • David Malangi Daymirringu
      David Malangi Daymirringu
    • Kate Just Anonymous is a Woman
      Kate Just Anonymous is a Woman
    • Robert MacPherson Tree Rain:16 Frog Poems (Yellow Monday) for J.C., 1990
      Robert MacPherson Tree Rain:16 Frog Poems (Yellow Monday) for J.C., 1990
    • Anna Kwasner
      Anna Kwasner
    • Museum of Contemporary Art Judith Wright Nature/Nurture
      Judith Wright Nature/Nurture

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

    Our photos are available for purchase on

  • State Library of New South Wales

    State Library of New South Wales

    State Library of New South Wales

    Located at 1 Shakespeare Place in the centre of Sydney, the State Library of New South Wales is the oldest library in Australia. Established in 1826, it moved to the current building in 1910. Designed by Walter Liberty Vernon, the heritage listed building has been expanded over the years as its collection has grown.

    Outside the Library

    The magnificent library building has several interesting statues on its grounds, which are worth looking for. To the right of the main entrance is a statue of Lieutenant General Sir Richard Bourke. Erected by the people of New South Wales, the statue commemorates Sir Richard Bourke’s governorship and administration. This was the first monument erected in Australia.

    Across the road from the entrance, is the Shakespeare Memorial, with figures representing Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Portia and Falstaff on the lower level, with Shakespeare standing above them. Located on a traffic island in the middle of a busy road, you need to be careful if getting close, because there is no pedestrian crossing to it.

    • State Library of New South Wales
      State Library of New South Wales Mitchell Building and Façade
    • Lieutenant General Sir Richard Bourke
      Lieutenant General Sir Richard Bourke
    • Shakespeare Memorial
      Shakespeare Memorial

    Matthew Flinders

    A statue of Matthew Flinders, the first person to circumnavigate Australia sits outside the Mitchell Library on Macquarie Street.

    Statue of Matthew Flinders State Library of New South Wales
    Statue of Matthew Flinders – With the cat statue behind him on the window sill

    Flinders’ Cat

    Trim was a ship’s cat who accompanied Matthew Flinders on his voyages to circumnavigate and map the coastline of Australia in 1801–03. It sits on a window ledge of the Mitchell Library on Macquarie Street, directly behind a statue of his owner. The plaque near the statue reads:


    TO THE MEMORY OF
    TRIM
    The best and most illustrious of his race.
    The most affectionate of friends,
    faithful of servants,
    and best of creatures.
    He made the tour of the globe, and a voyage to Australia,
    which he circumnavigated, and was ever the
    delight and pleasure of his fellow voyagers. 
    Written by Matthew Flinders in memory of his cat.
    Memorial donated by the North Shore Historical Society.

    Matthew Flinders’ Cat

    Vestibule

    The library’s vestibule contains a huge copy of the map of Australia made by Abel Tasman in the 1640’s. The original of this historical document is held in the library’s collection.

    • Tasman's Map of Australia
      Tasman’s Map of Australia

    The Library

    The main collection and reading room, the Mitchell Library Reading Room is adjacent to the vestibule. Being large and spacious with beautiful stain glass windows makes it an excellent place for quiet study.

    • Main Hall and Study Room State Library of New South Wales
      Mitchell Library Reading Room
    • Main Hall and Study Room State Library of New South Wales
      Mitchell Library Reading Room
    • Stain Glass Windows State Library of New South Wales
      Stain Glass Windows

    State Library of New South Wales Galleries

    Located on the upper floors of the gallery are several galleries. These contain an excellent collection of paintings and we spent some time wandering around.

    • Paintings in the Gallery
      Paintings in the Gallery
    • Paintings in the Gallery
      Paintings in the Gallery
    • Paintings in the Gallery

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.