Even before the opening of much-anticipated exhibitions in the Harbour City this summer, art lovers can now start planning their travel for the 2017-18 Sydney International Art Series as well.
Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age: Masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum has just been announced as the next bumper showpiece of international art to grace our shores.
It will be the first time the works that explore the flourishing artistic culture of the Netherlands during the 17th century have been exhibited in Sydney.
The Dutch masters and a new retrospective from pioneer Swiss video artist Pipilotti Rist will be hosted by the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.
Alongside Rembrandt and Vermeer, the exhibition features masterpieces by Ruisdael, Hals, De Hooch, Lievens and Leyster.
Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Dr Michael Brand, said, “This is a real treat for visitors to experience the visually rich art of the Dutch golden age.
“The exhibition features Rembrandt’s Self-portrait as the Apostle Paul, 1661 (main image), and the third Vermeer ever to travel to Australia – Woman Reading a Letter, c.1663 – an exceptionally rare and beautiful painting and one of only 36 known works by the master.”
Over the past thirty years, Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist has achieved international renown as a pioneer of video art and multimedia installations.
Her dazzling, large-scale installations incorporate video, sculpture and performance and often envelop viewers in vibrantly coloured projections of light and music to create sensual and immersive environments.
“Pipilotti Rist is one of the world’s most celebrated contemporary artists,” said Museum of Contemporary Art Director, Elizabeth Ann Macgregor OBE. “Her lush and playful multi-screen video installations are audience favourites wherever they are shown and will no doubt captivate visitors here in Australia.
“Pipilotti’s work reimagines the possibilities of the video medium and it is hugely exciting to be presenting in Sydney her very first museum exhibition in the region.”
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres announced the two exhibitions.
“Securing these remarkable collections, to be shown exclusively in NSW in 2017-2018, reaffirms the reputation of the Sydney International Art Series for bringing the world’s most outstanding art exclusively to Sydney,” Mr Ayres said.
For details of the 2016-17 Sydney International Art Series (5 Nov 2016 – 5 Feb 2017), click here for the Nude Art from the Tate Collection and here for Tatsuo Miyajima at MCA.
