The NGV has gone all Dutch
It’s all been a bit arty. I started out Wednesday morning in Federation Square at the Age’s exhibition of photos from this season’s AFL. A whole load of interesting and sometimes fun images capturing the uniqueness of the game of Aussie Rules Football. Plenty of Saints in there too, which is always good, a beautiful one of Richmond’s Matthew Richardson eating the turf at the Telstra Dome and a very young child in his Carlton shirt crying his little eyes out, which kind of sums up their season.
The late afternoon and evening were spent in the National Gallery of Victoria. The reason for going was the Dutch Masters exhibition. A whole load of paintings on loan from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Having been in Amsterdam last year and not gone to the Rijksmuseum today seemed as good as any to go and see some of the paintings. Very interesting it was too.
It would also appear that I now have a hostel room all to myself. It’s been generally quiet in the hostel though. Not really that surprising given that it’s winter here and most backpackers tend to go where the good weather is, Queensland or the Northern Territory. Although I’d suspect there’s also a fair number in Sydney working.
Friday and I was back at the NGV for a longer look round the free aspects of the gallery and the art therein. It’s a big place, 3 floors of art, exhibitions, cafes and things to see and do. Well worth the effort, even if I was feeling a bit knackered by the end of it all.
The pleasures of the 4th Ashes test awaited in the evening. A lot has been said in the last couple of days by the Australian press. Mostly about Shaun Tait, the new boy, the 392nd player to wear the baggy green. He’s been hyped up so much that even I was a little worried when play started last night.
I need not have worried though. The Australian bowling was somewhat insipid. Just a shame that rain got in the way a lot. Ever since January the Aussie media have assumed Australia would win the Ashes. Now I’m not saying they’re going to lose but the way they’re playing compared to the way England are playing would suggest that there’s no reason why England can’t win these final 2 tests.
Link: National Gallery of Victoria
