David Shrigley: Life and Life Drawing

Overview

The NGV is really shaking things up recently. Not only is it full of cone bras and bejewelled pubic hairs courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier, it's now about to unleash the work of Scottich comic genius David Shrigley upon its hallowed walls. Though both showings are extraordinarily far from past NGV offerings — remember that time it was full of Renaissance masterpieces? — they're a welcome move for gallery-goers with a healthy sense of humour.

In this, Shrigley's first major Australian show, we see a broad range of his much-loved work. Of course, there will be a bunch of his iconically crude drawings that take on larger existential themes, but there will also be broader selection of sculpture, video and painting. Most notable of which will be the work from which the exhibition takes its name.

Life Model is an interactive sculptural piece that earned Shrigley the Turner Prize in 2012. Featuring a life-sized cartoonish sculpture of a man peeing at regular intervals — stay with us — the work asks audience to sit down and participate in a life drawing class. Their drawings will then be mounted all over the walls of the gallery space. No, it might not be the way you imagined it happening, but this may be your only chance to get exhibited in the NGV.