Whack on something striking and dust off your dancing shoes as the much-loved NGV Friday Nights returns to dazzle Melburnians this summer.
Every Friday night, the NGV will open its doors after hours to show off the gallery's coolest new kid: Westwood | Kawakubo, an epic exhibition tracing five decades of radical self expression through the eyes of two of fashion's most trailblazing designers: Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo, the visionary behind Comme des Garçons.
Westwood | Kawakubo is a showcase of more than 140 boundary-breaking designs. Many are drawn from the NGV’s own holdings – an extraordinary cache of 300-plus Kawakubo pieces and more than 100 by Westwood – making this one of the most important showcases of their work anywhere in the world.
Grab a bubbly from the Moët and Chandon Champagne Bar, sink a signature summery cocktail at the Four Pillars Bar, or taste a Yarra Valley wine from the Yering Station Wine Bar. There will also be share-style snacks floating around, and a pop-up Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream Cart, because, obviously.
Eclectic live music and epic performances will also be popping off in the gallery, with renowned Aussie DJs like Breaking and Entering, Adriana, DJ Manchild, YO! Mafia and Small Fry all set to light up the stage with some cool sets. Expect nostalgic '70s, '80s and '90s classics combined with dancey tunes, all made to reflect the wild energy of both Westwood and Kawakubo's universes.
Also, hot tip: pop Friday, January 30 into your diary, because the NGV is collabing with Midsumma, Australia's leading queer arts and culture organisation. As part of the beloved festival, the exhibition halls will be taken over for one night with roving performers and a stellar line-up of LGBTQIA+ DJs.
For the full line-up of talent on each Friday night, check out the website.
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