3 Must-See Exhibits at the NGV Right Now

Red-carpet jewels, wearable art and iPad drawings – you won’t want to miss the latest exhibitions at NGV International, Melbourne. By Emma Mulholland.

Italian Jewels: Bulgari Style

For Marilyn Monroe, diamonds were a girl’s best friend; for Elizabeth Taylor, it was Bulgari’s jewels. While filming Cleopatra in Rome, Taylor spent time with Gianni Bulgari in his store. Her husband, Richard Burton, joked that she learned only one word of Italian: Bulgari. Italian Jewels: Bulgari Style (until January 29, 2017) explores Hollywood’s fascination with Italy’s capital in the Dolce Vita period of the 1950s and ’60s. The exhibition, which includes films and red-carpet jewellery, is a rare chance to see pieces from Taylor’s collection.

3 Must-See Exhibits at the NGV Right Now

Viktor&Rolf: Fashion Artists

The Dutch design duo are known for their quirky runway shows (remember the 2003 show where Tilda Swinton appeared among models styled to look like her?) but what you may not realise is the technical skill involved in pulling off their “wearable art”. There are 35 couture designs on display (until February 26, 2017) so you’ll see their handiwork up close – a better view than you get in the front row.

David Hockney: Current

He may be 79 but British artist David Hockney isn’t about to get all retrospective. He’s created the 700-plus works showing at the gallery (November 11-March 13, 2017) only over the past decade. Many have never been seen in Australia and some were made especially for the exhibition. You’ll have to keep a brisk pace to get through the pieces, including paintings, video, photography and digital drawings using an iPad.